Opening: Israel faces three formidable external challenges: in Gaza, in Lebanon, and in the international arena. Added to this, the dispute over ultra-Orthodox IDF conscription threatens to set the Israeli street ablaze. The government is charged with navigating these challenges, but it does not enjoy the confidence of two-thirds of the public. Therefore, there is no choice but to go…

Although the IDF requires a large influx of combat reinforcements, 66,000 ultra-Orthodox men of conscription age (18-26) do not enlist. The tragedy of October 7 and the ongoing war have not altered the position of the ultra-Orthodox rabbis. This is an outrageous situation, and the overwhelming majority of Israelis demand that it be changed. A social and political crisis is…