The court ruled that in the absence of a law, Israel’s compulsory military service applies to the ultra-Orthodox like any other citizen. Under longstanding arrangements, ultra-Orthodox men have been exempt from the draft, which is compulsory for most Jewish men and women. During arguments, government lawyers told the court that forcing ultra-Orthodox men to enlist would “tear Israeli society apart.” There was no immediate comment from Netanyahu’s office. The court also ruled that state subsidies for seminaries where exempted ultra-Orthodox men study should remain suspended. Ultra-Orthodox men attend special seminaries that focus on religious studies, with little attention on secular topics like math, English or science.
