Israeli Defense Minister Yisroel Katz is postponing the submission of the state’s response to High Court petitions regarding Chareidi military enlistment in order to exclude statements made by the IDF about its capacity to recruit Chareidi men, according to a report by the Kan public broadcaster.
The report suggests that Katz is attempting to remove the IDF’s assertion that it will be capable of drafting Chareidi men without difficulty by mid-2026, as this contradicts the government’s stance. The government is pushing for contentious legislation on the matter, which it hopes to pass.
At the request of Chareidi political factions, the government is working to pass a law that would allow for some increased military service among Chareidi men. However, it would largely preserve the broad exemption from military or national service that was annulled in a significant High Court ruling in June.
Members of the coalition have frequently argued that the legislation is justified because the IDF cannot accommodate the estimated 70,000 eligible Chareidi men currently exempt from service. However, IDF officials have disagreed, reportedly stating that by July 2026, there will be “no limits” on the number of Chareidi men the IDF can integrate into its ranks.
{Matzav.com Israel}