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Netanyahu's governing coalition is facing pressure over the longstanding issue of ultra-Orthodox Conscription, as he seeks a delay in instituting their compulsory miitary service.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked Israel's top court Thursday for a new delay on compulsory military service for ultra-Orthodox Jews, an issue that has put his ruling coalition at risk.
Conscription of ultra-Orthodox men has long been a divisive issue in Israeli politics, precipitating a protracted crisis that saw five parliamentary elections in under four years.
Ultra-Orthodox men are facing the possibility of being called up from April 1, as Israel's war against Hamas militants rages in the Gaza Strip.
But Netanyahu, who has depended on the support of ultra-Orthodox parties in successive coalition governments, asked the Supreme Court to delay a deadline for coming up with a new conscription policy.
He sought a 30-day delay to allow time to come up with an agreement within his government, where his ultra-Orthodox allies fiercely oppose conscription for their community.
Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara argued against a delay, telling the court that conscription needs to begin by April 1.
With the war in Gaza, pressure has increased on the country's large and growing ultra-Orthodox community who have long been exempt from military service, which is compulsory for nearly all other Jewish men in Israel.
Netanyahu is working to avoid an early election that might benefit Benny Gantz, a centrist member of his war cabinet, Yohanan Plesner, president of the Israel Democracy Institute think tank, has said.
Recent polls suggest that if there were an election, Gantz's party would win the largest number of seats.
But Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in February announced a reform of military service that would include the ultra-Orthodox.
Some Israeli media perceived Gallant's move as a challenge to Netanyahu. Both men belong to the same Likud party.
Military service is obligatory for young Israelis -- 32 months for men, and two years for women.
But almost all the ultra-Orthodox have been able to escape it, with 66,000 members of the community excused from military service last year alone.
With AFP
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked Israel's top court Thursday for a new delay on compulsory military service for ultra-Orthodox Jews, an issue that has put his ruling coalition at risk.
Conscription of ultra-Orthodox men has long been a divisive issue in Israeli politics, precipitating a protracted crisis that saw five parliamentary elections in under four years.
Ultra-Orthodox men are facing the possibility of being called up from April 1, as Israel's war against Hamas militants rages in the Gaza Strip.
But Netanyahu, who has depended on the support of ultra-Orthodox parties in successive coalition governments, asked the Supreme Court to delay a deadline for coming up with a new conscription policy.
He sought a 30-day delay to allow time to come up with an agreement within his government, where his ultra-Orthodox allies fiercely oppose conscription for their community.
Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara argued against a delay, telling the court that conscription needs to begin by April 1.
With the war in Gaza, pressure has increased on the country's large and growing ultra-Orthodox community who have long been exempt from military service, which is compulsory for nearly all other Jewish men in Israel.
Netanyahu is working to avoid an early election that might benefit Benny Gantz, a centrist member of his war cabinet, Yohanan Plesner, president of the Israel Democracy Institute think tank, has said.
Recent polls suggest that if there were an election, Gantz's party would win the largest number of seats.
But Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in February announced a reform of military service that would include the ultra-Orthodox.
Some Israeli media perceived Gallant's move as a challenge to Netanyahu. Both men belong to the same Likud party.
Military service is obligatory for young Israelis -- 32 months for men, and two years for women.
But almost all the ultra-Orthodox have been able to escape it, with 66,000 members of the community excused from military service last year alone.
With AFP
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