[Today's Prayer] Israeli Army Announces Conscription Notices to Ultra-Orthodox... Sparks for Netanyahu's Coalition Government

The Israeli Army announced that it will begin sending conscription notices to ultra-Orthodox Jews who have been exempted from military service.

According to AFP on the 6th (local time), the Israeli Army issued a statement that day and announced that it will send conscription notices to 54,000 ultra-Orthodox Jews this month.

The Israeli Army emphasized that "while respecting the lifestyle of ultra-Orthodox believers, we will continue to expand conscription efforts for them."

As the Gaza War, which began with a surprise attack by the Palestinian armed group Hamas in October 2023, dragged on and the shortage of troops worsened, Israel has been pushing for conscription targeting ultra-Orthodox Jews as well.

These ultra-Orthodox Jews, known as 'Haredi', have been exempted from military service since the founding of the state in 1948 on the grounds of preserving the culture and learning that was almost wiped out by the Holocaust.

They account for about 14% of the Jewish population of Israel, or 1.3 million people, and 66,000 of them are of conscription age and are exempt from military service.

When the Israeli Supreme Court ruled in June of last year that their exemption from military service was unfair and the Israeli army prepared to conscript them, the ultra-Orthodox protested fiercely, holding street demonstrations every day.

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The ultra-Orthodox Jews form one axis of the coalition government led by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

As they have warned that they will leave the coalition if conscription is forced upon them, it is widely expected that Prime Minister Netanyahu will manage the situation.

Source: Yonhap News

Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord! I have fled to you for refuge. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground! For your name's sake, O Lord, preserve my life! In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble! (Psalm 143:9-11)

Father God, as the Israeli military’s Gaza War, which began with a surprise attack by the Palestinian armed group Hamas, drags on, and the shortage of troops worsens, conscription notices are being issued to ultra-Orthodox Jews who have been exempted from military service. In response, we hear that ultra-Orthodox Haredi Jews are protesting fiercely by holding street demonstrations every day.

As the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues, many Israeli youths are being drafted into the military, and even the ultra-Orthodox Haredi, who were previously untouched in order to protect Israeli orthodox culture and academic discipline that was almost wiped out by the Nazis’ genocide, are being discussed, showing that there are many conflicts and divisions within Israel.

Lord, in this time of tribulation when Israel cannot obtain Shalom within and outside, we believe that the only Shalom for Israel is Jesus Christ.

Would you let the world church, which believes that the Lord is Christ and the Son of the living God, pray more for Israel, so that the people of Israel may awaken to the gospel and serve the souls of the nations who do not understand the truth according to the will of God the Father.

Please also let the Israeli church remember the first calling of God, who made a covenant with Abraham, beyond the restoration of Israel and the evangelization of the people, and follow the path of the cross, following Jesus, who is the truth.

When the Haredi and Israeli souls who have stubbornly refused to acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah call on the name of Jesus, the truth, let them see Jesus who is the true God of Israel, save this nation from the lies of the enemy who has put Israel in tribulation and division!

Therefore, let the Haredi and Israeli souls obey the will of God who wants to save all nations and go out to all nations to fulfill the mission of spreading the gospel of the kingdom of heaven.

Let the last disciples in Israel and the holy army arise, who will overcome the end times and prepare for the second coming of Jesus among all nations!