High Court delays issue of conscription of Haredim until after election

The High Court of Justice accepts the government’s request to delay the conscription of ultra-Orthodox Israelis, pushing the issue off until this summer.

In 2017, the High Court overturned a law exempting ultra-Orthodox, or Haredi, Israelis from military service on the grounds that the exemption was unfair. The court demanded that the government either pass new legislation or begin conscripting Haredi men. Since then, the government — through the defense minister — has requested and received extensions for this deadline on the grounds that it was still working to pass the bill. But last month, Defense Minister Benny Gantz — in what was widely seen as a campaign stunt — refused to request the delay.

However, despite his opposition, the government requested an extension anyway, not because it was making progress on the issue but because of the incoming election.

The court has accepted this argument and grants an extension on the issue until July 6, 2021.