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A gathering crisis over conscripting Haredi men into the military is posing a risk to the governing coalition and splitting the nation.

Popular sentiment on the matter has changed profoundly in Israel after two years of conflict, and this is now possibly the most volatile political risk facing Benjamin Netanyahu.

The Constitutional Battle

Lawmakers are now debating a draft bill to end the exemption granted to yeshiva scholars dedicated to yeshiva learning, established when the modern Israel was declared in 1948.

This arrangement was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court almost 20 years ago. Temporary arrangements to continue it were formally ended by the judiciary last year, compelling the government to begin drafting the Haredi sector.

Some 24,000 call-up papers were sent out last year, but just approximately 1,200 men from the community reported for duty, according to army data given to lawmakers.

Strains Boil Over Into Public View

Tensions are erupting onto the public squares, with parliamentarians now debating a new draft bill to require ultra-Orthodox men into army duty together with other Israeli Jews.

A pair of ultra-Orthodox lawmakers were targeted this month by radical elements, who are furious with the Knesset's deliberations of the proposed law.

Recently, a special Border Police unit had to assist Military Police officers who were targeted by a large crowd of ultra-Orthodox protesters as they sought to apprehend a alleged conscription dodger.

These arrests have led to the development of a new communication network dubbed "Dark Alert" to rapidly disseminate information through the religious sector and summon demonstrators to prevent arrests from occurring.

"Israel is a Jewish nation," stated an activist. "You can't fight against religious practice in a Jewish country. That is untenable."

An Environment Set Aside

But the changes blowing through Israel have failed to penetrate the environment of the Torah academy in a Haredi stronghold, an Haredi enclave on the edge of Tel Aviv.

In the learning space, young students learn in partnerships to debate Jewish law, their distinctive writing books popping against the seats of formal attire and traditional skullcaps.

"Arrive late at night, and you will see half the guys are studying Torah," the leader of the seminary, Rabbi Tzemach Mazuz, said. "Via dedicated learning, we protect the military personnel in the field. This is how we contribute."

Haredi Jews maintain that unceasing devotion and religious study defend Israel's armed forces, and are as crucial to its military success as its advanced weaponry. This tenet was accepted by the nation's leaders in the past, the rabbi said, but he acknowledged that public attitudes are shifting.

Increasing Popular Demand

The ultra-Orthodox population has more than doubled its share of Israel's population over the since the state's founding, and now accounts for a sizable minority. An exemption that started as an exemption for a few hundred Torah scholars turned into, by the start of the Gaza war, a body of some 60,000 men not subject to the draft.

Surveys suggest support for ending the exemption is growing. Research in July found that a large majority of non-Haredi Jews - even a significant majority in Netanyahu's own right-wing Likud party - supported penalties for those who refused a draft order, with a clear majority in favor of cutting state subsidies, the right to travel, or the electoral participation.

"It seems to me there are people who are part of this country without giving anything back," one military member in Tel Aviv explained.

"It is my belief, no matter how devout, [it] should be an justification not to go and serve your nation," added Gabby. "Being a native, I find it somewhat unreasonable that you want to exempt yourself just to learn in a yeshiva all day."

Views from Within the Community

Support for ending the exemption is also coming from religious Jews beyond the Haredi community, like a Bnei Brak inhabitant, who resides close to the yeshiva and highlights non-Haredi religious Jews who do serve in the military while also maintaining their faith.

"I am frustrated that the Haredim don't enlist," she said. "It's unfair. I am also committed to the Torah, but there's a proverb in Jewish tradition - 'Safra and Saifa' – it signifies the scripture and the weapons together. This is the correct approach, until the arrival of peace."

Ms Barak maintains a local tribute in her city to fallen servicemen, both from all backgrounds, who were killed in battle. Rows of photographs {