Israeli court annuls law exempting religious from military
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Israel's Supreme Court has struck down a 2015 law granting exemptions from military service to ultra-Orthodox men.
Tuesday's decision threatened to re-ignite tensions between Israel's politically powerful ultra-Orthodox community and the secular Jewish majority.
Military service is mandatory for most Jewish men, but the ultra-Orthodox community has won exemptions. Their leaders say they serve the nation through study and prayer. Secular Israelis say the system is unfair.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Past attempts to force religious men to enlist have triggered violent protests.
Israel's government moved to reduce exemptions and increase ultra-Orthodox military service in a 2014 law. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu canceled those reforms in 2015 after forming a new coalition with religious partners.
In Tuesday's decision, the court said the 2015 law is discriminatory and must be replaced.