Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men protest against conscription into the Israeli army in Jerusalem on Oct. 30, 2025. (Credit: Fadel Senna/AFP)
Without the Haredim — "those who fear God" in Hebrew — the most right-wing government in Israel's history might not have survived the security failures exposed by Oct. 7 and the fallout from the prolonged wars Israel launched across the region. They have never been more essential to political power in Israel.It was with the support of ultra-Orthodox parties that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu secured passage at the end of March of his proposed nearly $10 billion increase to the 2026 defense budget, at the height of the war with Iran. In return, they obtained more than $750 million in additional funding for their schools. And despite broad opposition within Israeli society to maintaining military exemptions for Haredim, the issue of their conscription remains unresolved.Opposition parties, however, have pledged to change...
Without the Haredim — "those who fear God" in Hebrew — the most right-wing government in Israel's history might not have survived the security failures exposed by Oct. 7 and the fallout from the prolonged wars Israel launched across the region. They have never been more essential to political power in Israel.It was with the support of ultra-Orthodox parties that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu secured passage at the end of March of his proposed nearly $10 billion increase to the 2026 defense budget, at the height of the war with Iran. In return, they obtained more than $750 million in additional funding for their schools. And despite broad opposition within Israeli society to maintaining military exemptions for Haredim, the issue of their conscription remains unresolved.Opposition parties, however, have pledged to...