Key points
- The IDF plans to send 54,000 summonses to students at ultra-Orthodox seminaries in an effort to attract more members of that community to the army.
- The military command is calling on the government to impose stricter sanctions on draft dodgers. The IDF also promises to provide conditions that are consistent with the religious lifestyle of the ultra-Orthodox.
- In Israel, military service is mandatory for most Jewish citizens, but ultra-Orthodox Jews often do not serve for religious reasons.
Israel wants to send out summonses to 54,000 students of ultra-Orthodox seminaries / Photo Getty Images (illustrative)
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has announced plans to send 54,000 draft notices to students at ultra-Orthodox Jewish seminaries in an effort to attract more members of that community to the IDF.
This was reported by Channel 24 , citing Reuters and the Jerusalem Post.
How the IDF Wants to Draft Ultra-Orthodox Seminary Students
Most of the recruits are Haredim (the self-designation of ultra-Orthodox Jews – Channel 24) around 26 years old. In 2026, the IDF plans to recruit 4,800 members of this community into the army, which is 3,000 more than in previous years.
At the same time, the military command is calling on the government to introduce stricter sanctions against draft dodgers. According to the army, prisons already have 250-300 places for those who ignore summonses, and this number may be increased. There are also plans to create a separate police company to detain violators.
Among the other proposed changes is a new approach to identifying draft dodgers. Whereas previously the military had to enter areas densely populated by Haredim or Bedouins, now checks can take place at airports and other public places where conscripts might appear.
Now, the Jerusalem Post estimates that of the 14,000 potential violators, a third are already on the verge of arrest. In the coming months, that number could rise to 35,000, largely as a result of the ultra-Orthodox appeal.
The move has drawn criticism from the two ultra-Orthodox parties in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's ruling coalition, who fear that serving alongside secular Israelis, particularly women, will pose a threat to the Haredi religious identity.
In response, the IDF promised to create separate conditions for them, corresponding to their religious way of life, and to introduce integration programs. The summonses themselves are already planned to be sent from July.
In Israel, military service lasts between 24 and 32 months and is mandatory from age 18 for most Jewish citizens. Arabs, who make up 21% of the population, are generally exempt from compulsory service, although some volunteer for the army.
In 2024, the Supreme Court lifted the exemption for ultra-Orthodox seminary students. The plan was to draft 24,000 people, but the actual turnout was low. This sparked widespread protests across the country.
Ultra-Orthodox Jews, for religious reasons, most often do not serve in the Israeli army.
