"Israeli Court Challenges Government on Military Exemptions for Religious Groups"

The Israeli Supreme Court is reviewing challenges to exemptions from military conscription for ultra-Orthodox Jews, a contentious issue exacerbated by the ongoing Gaza conflict. The court previously voided a law allowing these exemptions, and the government has yet to find a new solution. Prime Minister Netanyahu is negotiating with ultra-Orthodox coalition partners to avoid a court-mandated draft, as the need for military personnel grows amid high troop casualties. The ultra-Orthodox community, making up 13% of the population, argues that conscription would disrupt their religious studies and lifestyle.