Israel’s Supreme Court rules that government must draft ultra-Orthodox Jews in military

Israel’s Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that the Israeli government must draft ultra-Orthodox Jewish men into the military. 

Prior to the ruling, ultra-Orthodox jews were exempt from military service, along with Palestinian citizens of Israel. 

The court also ruled that the government should withdraw funding from any religious schools, or yeshivas, if their students do not follow draft notices.

“The government wanted to distinguish at the level of law enforcement between individuals based on their group affiliation,” the court said in its ruling. “It was determined that by doing so, the government seriously harmed the rule of law and the principle according to which all individuals are equal before the law.”

Ultra-Orthodox activists in Israel oppose changes to the military service exemption. The Israel Supreme Court's ruling threatens Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition.