Observation: Will the Requirement of an Iron-Clad Exemption from Army
Service for Haredis Make Compromise on Judicial Reform Impossible?
Dr. Aaron Lerner, 14 February 2023

The Supreme Court could void legislation granting Haredi men their exemption
from army service. This concern drives Haredi support for judicial reform,
which would strip the Supreme Court of the ability to void such legislation,
either by preventing the Supreme Court from considering cases challenging
the law (as a "Basic Law") or by providing that 61 MKs can overrule a
Supreme Court decision voiding a law.

Given this situation, can those leading the judicial reform initiative reach
a reasonable and workable compromise?

This dilemma could be solved instantly if the Haredi community agreed to
receive an army service exemption on the same basis that Israeli Arabs are
not drafted to serve: security considerations. Unfortunately, there does not
appear to be a formula that would make such a solution palatable.
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