SBS News June 7, 2025
Ultra-Orthodox conscription threatens Netanyahu's coalition

Israel recently stepped up its Gaza campaign in what it says is a renewed push to defeat Hamas — the Palestinian military and political group that rules Gaza — whose 7 October 2023 attack sparked the war, a significant escalation in the long-standing conflict.

But the ramping up of its offensive comes amid a row over the conscription of ultra-Orthodox Jews — an issue that's threatened to sink Netanyahu's government.

Ultra-Orthodox religious parties have warned they will pull out of Netanyahu's coalition if the prime minister fails to make good on a promise to codify in law the military exemption for their community.

At the same time, much of the public has turned against the exemption amid the increasing strain put on reservists' families by repeated call-up orders during the war.

Asked by a reporter about the issue of ultra-Orthodox conscription, military spokesman Effie Defrin said:
"This is the need of the moment, an operational necessity".

The army was short around 10,000 soldiers, including about 6,000 in combat roles, adding that
"tens of thousands more notices will be issued in the upcoming draft cycle".

Yet... Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's sons Yair 33 and Avner 30 MIA