Israel Court Orders Draft of Religious Men, Spurring Crisis.

Israel's Supreme Court has ruled that the government must begin conscripting Ultra-Orthodox men into military service and stop funding seminaries whose students avoid the draft. This decision could potentially lead to a political crisis. The court argued that the current system creates discrimination between those who are required to serve and those who are exempt. The issue of military service for religious Jews has become more contentious since the recent war with Hamas, with many Israelis believing that religious Jews should not be exempt from serving. The court's ruling has caused Israeli stocks to rise. The exemption from military service for Ultra-Orthodox men dates back to the early days of the state, but as the population of the Ultra-Orthodox community has grown, so has the controversy surrounding the exemption. The court quoted the state as saying that there are currently 63,000 draft-age Ultra-Orthodox men. The opposition leader, Benny Gantz, blamed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the situation and called for agreements that would serve the country's security needs while also ensuring equality. The Haredi parties may choose to stick with Netanyahu rather than form a new coalition. The decision has been met with anger from some members of the Ultra-Orthodox community, who argue that it infringes on their religious freedom. Secular Israelis have long called for the Ultra-Orthodox community to share the burden of military service. The recent war with Hamas has highlighted concerns about the impact of the exemption on the country's defense and economy. The [Extracted from the article]