Meirav Cohen, a Member of Knesset in Israel, has put universal military conscription high on the agenda for the Israeli parliamentary election of 2026, claiming that the Jewish nation would be on the verge of existence if the ultra-Orthodox population is not integrated into the defence system of the nation. Ultra-Orthodox Draft Essential for Israel
Giving a statement after presenting the list of candidates for the B’Yachad (“Together”) Party founded by Naftali Bennett, Meirav Cohen, who is a well-known member of the opposition, said that military service of the Haredi males was a matter of survival, not a political issue. She stated that changes in demographics along with growing security threats made military service a necessity for the IDF.
The contentious issue of ultra-Orthodox draft exemptions—a long-standing cornerstone of Israeli domestic politics has emerged as a central flashpoint ahead of the upcoming legislative race. For decades, Haredi men enrolled in full-time religious study centres benefited from sweeping military exemptions. However, recent Supreme Court rulings, shifting public sentiment, and sustained military operations across multiple fronts have intensified calls across the political spectrum to eliminate preferential conscription frameworks permanently.
Addressing the severe geopolitical threats facing the nation, Cohen questioned how future governments intend to protect national borders without widening the military draft pool. She stressed that structural manpower shortages directly jeopardise combat readiness, placing an unsustainable operational burden on secular and national-religious citizens who currently bear the heavy responsibility of mandatory conscription and extended reserve duties.
The political manoeuvre coincides with nationwide electoral preparations, as party slates finalise their candidate rosters before deadlines close. While Haredi political leaders maintain that full-time Torah study offers vital spiritual protection for the nation, secular and centrist factions are increasingly cementing mandatory military service as an absolute prerequisite for joining any future ruling coalition.
With voters preparing to head to the polls, defence experts and political analysts anticipate that conscription reform will dominate debates, forcing every major faction to deliver transparent policy commitments regarding judicial enforcement, military draft quotas, and civil service alternatives. Israel Times
