The Israeli army reported a 24% increase in the recruitment of ultra-Orthodox men since the beginning of April 2026, in the context of political debates regarding mandatory military service.

The Israeli army announced on Wednesday a significant 24% increase in the recruitment of ultra-Orthodox men in the period of April 2023 compared to the same period last year. This situation arises against the backdrop of a political controversy related to the evasion of mandatory military service by this religious group.

According to a rule established by David Ben-Gurion, ultra-Orthodox individuals were exempt from military service if they dedicated themselves to studying sacred texts. However, in June 2024, the Supreme Court decided to put an end to this practice, which led to the issuance of conscription orders to students from Talmudic schools. Although recruitment has increased, protests against the inclusion of ultra-Orthodox individuals in military service have intensified. They represent approximately 14% of the population of Israel, and ultra-Orthodox parties are pressuring the government to obtain exemptions. The army estimates that between 80,000 and 90,000 individuals have evaded recruitment, the majority being ultra-Orthodox.