Israel Expands Military Draft for Ultra-Orthodox, Creates New Units
Translated & summarized from Mignews by baba
Israel is expanding its military draft to include more ultra-Orthodox citizens and is creating specialized units to accommodate their religious needs. An advisor to the Prime Minister's Office, Dmitry Gendelman, stated that the state must respect the religious practices of the Haredi community. He cited the "Hasmonean" combat brigade as an example of a unit designed for religious soldiers, with around 1,300 Haredim drafted. Gendelman also discussed increased employment and education among the ultra-Orthodox, anticipating greater integration into Israeli society.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Israel is expanding military conscription for ultra-Orthodox citizens and establishing new specialized units.
- An advisor stated the state must respect Haredi religious practices, not change them via collective punishment.
- The "Hasmonean" combat brigade was created for religious soldiers, drafting about 1,300 Haredim.
- The army needs infrastructure, conditions, and commanders before absorbing all potential ultra-Orthodox recruits.
- Employment for Haredi women is around 81%, with more pursuing higher education and careers.
- An advisor predicts deeper ultra-Orthodox integration into Israeli society within ten years.
Israel is expanding its military conscription to include more ultra-Orthodox citizens, establishing specialized army units designed to accommodate their religious lifestyle. Dmitry Gendelman, an advisor to the Prime Minister's Office, stated in an interview that the state must respect the religious practices of the Haredi community rather than attempt to alter them through collective punishment. He noted that attitudes toward military service within the ultra-Orthodox society are gradually shifting, and that previous governments had delayed addressing the issue, while current practical mechanisms are now available to increase enlistment from this sector.
Gendelman cited the "Hasmonean" combat brigade as an example of a unit created with the religious needs of ultra-Orthodox soldiers in mind. Approximately 1,300 Haredim have been drafted, with about a thousand assigned to combat roles, and further units are in development. However, he cautioned that the army cannot absorb all potential recruits from the ultra-Orthodox sector immediately, as it requires suitable infrastructure, specific service conditions, and trained commanders. The number of draftees must also align with the armed forces' actual needs.
He expressed strong opposition to punishing the entire ultra-Orthodox community for the refusal of some individuals to serve, emphasizing his stance against collective punishment. Gendelman believes that integrating the Haredi population should respect their religious customs, creating conditions that allow individuals to serve, study, and work without compromising their identity. He also highlighted progress in education and employment among the ultra-Orthodox, with an estimated 81% employment rate for women and increasing numbers pursuing higher education and in-demand professions. These trends, he suggested, have accelerated since the events of October 7, 2023, which heightened the national focus on security contributions from all citizens.
Gendelman anticipates deeper integration of the ultra-Orthodox society into Israeli life within the next decade. The interview also touched upon the service of Arab citizens, with Gendelman suggesting that while general civic duties should apply, the specific circumstances of different groups must be considered. For those unable to perform military service, he proposed exploring alternative forms of community service.
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