Gov't Risks Splits As Def Sec. To Start Haredi Draft Next Month

Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has confirmed that the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) will begin drafting eligible men from the ultra-Orthodox Haredi community from next month. This follows a ruling from the High Court in June that ordered the universal draft of previously-exempt Haredi men and the withdrawal of funds from institutions that do not obey the Court's order.

• The reaction among some sections of the Haredi community has been furious, with some anti-draft protests erupting into violence. Indeed, the car of Houshing Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf, leader of the United Torah Judiaism (UTJ) party, which draws its support from the Azhkenazi Orthodox community, was attacked at one such event.
• The UTJ and the other ultraorthodox party in gov't, the Sephardic interest Shas, have already voiced major displeasure of the gov'ts withdrawal of the 'Rabbis bill' in the Knesset, and the start of draft of Haredim men could spark further division.
• Should UTJ and Shas withdraw their support, PM Benjamin Netanyahu's gov't would lose its majority and risk collapse. Opinion polling shows a majority for parties opposed to Netanyahu, with any snap election likely leading to a change in gov't.