Conscription Crisis: Ultra-Orthodox Draft Exemption Dominates Israel’s 2026 Election
The debate over military conscription for ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) men has become the central issue in Israel’s October 27, 2026 election, overshadowing other conflicts. While 72% of Israelis support drafting Haredim alongside other citizens, the community’s political representatives, Shas and United Torah Judaism (UTJ), refuse to join any coalition that does not guarantee their exemption. This deadlock threatens Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition, which relies on Haredi support to reach a majority, while opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot campaigns on ending the exemption. Recent clashes between police and Haredi protesters, including a violent incident in Modi'in, have intensified public anger, with critics viewing the exemption as a dereliction of duty during ongoing wars in Gaza and the West Bank.