Source: The New Arab [UK]
“Israel’s parliament on Monday passed a law declaring the study of Jewish religious texts a ‘fundamental value’ of the state, a move widely seen as strengthening the ultra-Orthodox community’s case for exemption from mandatory military service. … For decades, most ultra-Orthodox Jewish men have avoided Israel’s mandatory military service by registering as full-time religious students. Israel’s Supreme Court ruled this exemption illegal, and the military—stretched thin after more than two years of war—has demanded more recruits. Rather than directly legislating an exemption, which the court would likely strike down, the coalition took an indirect route: drafting a ‘Basic Law’—a type of legislation with quasi-constitutional weight in Israel—declaring Torah study ‘a core national value’.” (07/14/26)
https://www.newarab.com/news/israeli-knesset-passes-law-ultra-orthodox-seek-skip-military