In a decision that will further exacerbate the already severe coalition crisis, the Attorney General’s Office announced Thursday night that the IDF will issue in July some 54,000 conscription orders to ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students, as well as send enlistment orders to ultra-Orthodox youths approaching the age of conscription.

Although the orders will be issued in July, the dates on which those receiving the orders must present themselves at IDF recruitment offices will be staggered throughout the upcoming conscription year, which starts on July 1, 2025.

In addition, the IDF will also increase enforcement measures against the thousands of ultra-Orthodox men who have received conscription orders in the last year but have failed to present themselves at IDF recruitment offices.

The announcement Thursday night comes against the background of sharp threats by the ultra-Orthodox political parties and their rabbinic leaders to vote in favor of early elections unless the coalition advances legislation that will reinstate the blanket military service exemptions which Haredi yeshiva students enjoyed until July 2023, when they expired.

Existing efforts to draft the Haredi youth have also sparked protests.

Hundreds of ultra-Orthodox demonstrators from the extremist Jerusalem Faction blocked Route 4 in Bnei Brak on Thursday, protesting the arrest of a yeshiva student who avoided military recruitment.

Police at the scene clashed with protesters........

© The Times of Israel