Israel army fails to recruit hundreds of ultra-Orthodox Jews

The Israeli army has failed to recruit hundreds of young ultra-Orthodox Haredi Jews for military service as scores protested against compulsory enlistment, Anadolu reported citing local media.

The Israeli public broadcaster KAN said only 30 Haredi Jews appeared on Monday. Some 1,000 were due to register on Monday and Tuesday this week.

KAN quoted a source in the Israeli army as saying that many Haredi Jews who intended to join the army have been put off by protests organised outside the conscription office. Three protesters were arrested yesterday.

In June, Israel’s Supreme Court mandated the drafting of ultra-Orthodox Jews, or Haredi, into the army and banned financial aid to religious institutions whose students refuse military service.

READ: Haredi Jews storm army’s conscription office in central Israel to protest mandatory service

Haredi Jews make up about 13 per cent of Israel’s population of approximately 9.9 million and do not serve in the military, dedicating their lives to studying the Torah.

Israeli law requires all Israelis over 18 to serve in the military, and the exemption of Haredi has been a contentious issue for decades.

The Hebrew website Walla said the army will form a new division dubbed the David Division which will include exempted male and female soldiers as well as volunteers and Haredi Jews, expecting the number of soldiers serving in this division to reach 40,000 fighters.

The decision to revoke the Haredi exemption comes as Israel struggles to recruit sufficient soldiers during its current wars in the region. According to Haaretz, dozens of reserve soldiers announced that they will not return to military service in Gaza even if they are punished.