The ruling — and an immediate pledge by some Haredi Jews to defy it — underline Israel's internal battle between secular and religious forces as it wages war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip since the October 7 attacks and faces an intensifying conflict with Hezbollah guerrillas on its northern border.

"One thing is certain: not one Yeshiva student will leave his studies to join the army when being coerced to do so," Rabbi Heshy Grossman told Newsweek via WhatsApp after the ruling. "We believe that the Supreme Court has exceeded its mandate and should not be taking authority over matters of religious life."

At the root of the dispute is an exemption dating back to Israel's founding 76 years ago, which allowed certain Haredi men to avoid universal conscription.

Instead of putting on olive drab uniforms when they graduate high school as their secular peers — both men and women — must do as conscripts, these new-minted men wear dark suits, white shirts, black felt circular head coverings (kippot) and big black hats that run from fedoras to large beaver-fur headpieces depending on the occasion and particular sect.

The decision was unanimous among the justices, with Acting President of the Court Uzi Vogelman saying, "In the midst of a grueling war, the burden of inequality is harsher than ever and demands a solution."

According to Israel's Ha'aretz newspaper, the law that allowed yeshiva students to avoid military service was set to expire at the end of March, and the possibility of its renewal is what led to petitions by both civil groups and 240 private individuals.

Since the war with Hamas began on Oct. 7, 666 Israeli soldiers have died and nearly 4,000 have been wounded, according to the government. Many thousands of reserve troops have been called up, all of which has further heightened tensions between the Haredim and the rest of Israel.

Round of 16

29 June 2024

18:00

Switzerland	Match 38	Italy
	Report

Olympiastadion, Berlin

29 June 2024

21:00

Germany	Match 37	Runner-up Group C
	Report

Westfalenstadion, Dortmund

30 June 2024

21:00

Spain	Match 39	3rd Group D/E/F
	Report

RheinEnergieStadion, Cologne

1 July 2024

18:00

France	Match 42	Runner-up Group E
	Report

Merkur Spiel-Arena, Düsseldorf

1 July 2024

21:00

Portugal	Match 41	3rd Group A/B/C
	Report

Waldstadion, Frankfurt

2 July 2024

21:00

Austria	Match 44	Runner-up Group F
	Report

Red Bull Arena, Leipzig

Bracket

Round of 16

Quarter-finals

Semi-finals

Final

30 June – Cologne

Spain

5 July – Stuttgart

3rd Group D/E/F

Winner Match 39

29 June – Dortmund

Winner Match 37

Germany

9 July – Munich

Runner-up Group C

Winner Match 45

1 July – Frankfurt

Winner Match 46

Portugal

5 July – Hamburg

3rd Group A/B/C

Winner Match 41

1 July – Düsseldorf

Winner Match 42

France

14 July – Berlin

Runner-up Group E

Winner Match 49

2 July – Munich

Winner Match 50

Winner Group E

6 July – Berlin

3rd Group A/C/D

Winner Match 43

2 July – Leipzig

Winner Match 44

Austria

10 July – Dortmund

Runner-up Group F

Winner Match 47

30 June – Gelsenkirchen

Winner Match 48

Winner Group C

6 July – Düsseldorf

3rd Group D/E/F

Winner Match 40

29 June – Berlin

Winner Match 38

Switzerland

Italy

Ranking of third-placed teams

Pos	Grp	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	D	Netherlands (A)	3	1	1	1	4	4	0	4	Advance to knockout stage
2	E	Slovakia	2	1	0	1	2	2	0	3
3	A	Hungary	3	1	0	2	2	5	−3	3
4	C	Slovenia	2	0	2	0	2	2	0	2
5	B	Croatia	3	0	2	1	3	6	−3	2
6	F	Czech Republic	2	0	1	1	2	3	−1	1