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An impending political storm over drafting Haredi men into the military is posing a risk to the governing coalition and dividing the state.

Public opinion on the matter has undergone a sea change in Israel in the wake of two years of hostilities, and this is now possibly the most explosive political issue facing the Prime Minister.

The Legal Struggle

Lawmakers are now debating a proposal to end the deferment granted to Haredi students dedicated to full-time religious study, instituted when the the nation was established in 1948.

The deferment was ruled illegal by the nation's top court in the early 2000s. Interim measures to continue it were formally ended by the bench last year, pressuring the cabinet to start enlisting the ultra-Orthodox population.

Approximately 24,000 draft notices were sent out last year, but merely about 1,200 men from the community enlisted, according to army data presented to lawmakers.

Strains Erupt Into Violence

Tensions are erupting onto the streets, with lawmakers now deliberating a new legislative proposal to compel Haredi males into military service together with other Israeli Jews.

A pair of ultra-Orthodox lawmakers were targeted this month by some extreme ultra-Orthodox protesters, who are incensed with parliament's discussion of the proposed law.

And last week, a specialized force had to assist army police who were surrounded by a sizeable mob of ultra-Orthodox protesters as they tried to arrest a suspected draft-evader.

These enforcement actions have sparked the creation of a new alert system named "Black Alert" to send out instant alerts through the religious sector and summon demonstrators to prevent arrests from taking place.

"We're a Jewish country," remarked one protester. "It's impossible to battle the Jewish faith in a nation founded on Jewish identity. That is untenable."

A Realm Set Aside

Yet the transformations sweeping across Israel have not yet breached the walls of the religious seminary in Bnei Brak, an Haredi enclave on the edge of Tel Aviv.

Within the study hall, young students study together to debate Jewish law, their vividly colored writing books standing out against the rows of white shirts and traditional skullcaps.

"Arrive late at night, and you will see half the guys are engaged in learning," the leader of the academy, the spiritual guide, explained. "By studying Torah, we shield the military personnel wherever they are. This is our army."

Ultra-Orthodox believe that unceasing devotion and spiritual pursuit protect Israel's military, and are as crucial to its security as its tanks and air force. This conviction was endorsed by the nation's leaders in the past, Rabbi Mazuz said, but he admitted that public attitudes are shifting.

Increasing Public Pressure

The ultra-Orthodox population has more than doubled its percentage of the nation's citizens over the past seven decades, and now constitutes a sizable minority. A policy that originated as an exception for a small number of yeshiva attendees became, by the onset of the recent conflict, a cohort of tens of thousands of men not subject to the conscription.

Surveys suggest approval of ultra-Orthodox conscription is increasing. A survey in July showed that 85% of non-Haredi Jews - even a large segment in the Prime Minister's political base - favored sanctions for those who ignored a enlistment summons, with a clear majority in favor of cutting state subsidies, the right to travel, or the right to vote.

"I feel there are individuals who reside in this nation without giving anything back," one military member in Tel Aviv said.

"In my view, regardless of piety, [it] should be an justification not to perform service your nation," stated a young woman. "If you're born here, I find it quite ridiculous that you want to opt out just to study Torah all day."

Views from the Heart of the Community

Backing for broadening conscription is also expressed by traditional Jews not part of the Haredi community, like one local resident, who is a neighbor of the seminary and notes religious Zionists who do serve in the military while also engaging in religious study.

"I'm very angry that ultra-Orthodox people don't enlist," she said. "It is unjust. I too follow the Torah, but there's a proverb in Hebrew - 'The Book and the Sword' – it represents the Torah and the guns together. That's the way forward, until the days of peace."

She maintains a small memorial in her city to local soldiers, both religious and secular, who were killed in battle. Lines of photographs {