JERUSALEM, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz announced on Friday that the country will begin issuing conscription orders to thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jewish men, a group traditionally exempt from military service, citing a shortage of soldiers.
Katz said in a statement that 7,000 draft orders for ultra-Orthodox men to serve in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will be sent gradually, starting on Sunday.
Katz noted his intention to hold "comprehensive discussions to promote an agreed-upon solution that would enable the genuine integration of ultra-Orthodox men into the IDF, easing the burden on regular service members, career soldiers, and reservists."
Ultra-Orthodox men have long been exempted from mandatory military service, a status quo strongly defended by ultra-Orthodox political parties, which are key allies of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's far-right coalition. In June, the Supreme Court ruled the exemptions unconstitutional.
Israel has been engaged in multi-front conflicts for over a year, with ongoing fighting in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria, as well as occasional strikes in Iran and drone attacks from Yemen and Iraq.
In October, the military's Deputy Chief of Staff, Amir Baram, told ministers during a cabinet meeting that, "We are short on soldiers," emphasizing that drafting ultra-Orthodox men is an "operational necessity." ■
