Israel issues 7,000 new draft orders for ultra-Orthodox members
Orders come at a time when Israel is struggling to bolster troop numbers as it fights a multi-front war
Israel’s Defence Minister Yoav Gallant issued 7,000 additional army draft orders on Monday for individuals from the country’s ultra-Orthodox community, historically exempted from mandatory service until a June Supreme Court decision.
Gallant approved the Israeli army’s “recommendation to issue an additional 7,000 orders for screening and evaluation processes for ultra-Orthodox draft-eligible individuals in the coming phase, which is expected to begin in the coming days”, the defence ministry said in a statement.
The order comes after a first round of 3,000 draft orders were sent out in July, sparking protests from the ultra-Orthodox community.
“The defence minister concluded that the war and the challenges we face underscore the [Israeli army’s] need for additional soldiers. This is a tangible operational need that requires broad national mobilisation from all parts of society,” the ministry said.