Thousands Rally in Tel Aviv for Equal Military Service - High Court Deadline Postponed Amid Tensions

In the backdrop of heightened political tensions surrounding the conscription law, approximately 10,000 individuals gathered on Thursday evening for a rally advocating for equal military service at Tel Aviv's Hamima Square.

Chanting "75 years of inequality are over," demonstrators, organized by the forum "Fighters for Equality in Burden" led by Major General (res.) Noam Tivon, called on the government to address disparities in military service, particularly urging an end to discrimination and the inclusion of ultra-Orthodox individuals in national service.

Addressing the crowd, Tivon urged former military leaders, including Galant, Gantz, and Eisenkot, to demonstrate public courage, emphasizing the importance of fair recruitment practices.

Lieutenant-Colonel (res.) Michal Carmel, a recent retiree from 8200 and a vocal advocate for gender equality in the military, highlighted the historic strides made by women in defense roles and emphasized the need for continued progress.

While attendees expressed support for equal recruitment, some, like Eric Somer from Ornit, questioned the absence of more religious demonstrators, emphasizing the importance of inclusivity in national service.

Concerns were raised about potential trade-offs between recruiting the ultra-Orthodox and maintaining gender equality in the military. However, Carmel reiterated the demand for mandatory recruitment of the ultra-Orthodox while ensuring continued progress for all individuals in the defense establishment.

Carmel also shared the story of an ultra-Orthodox soldier who concealed his service out of fear of stigma, underscoring the need to destigmatize military service and achieve full equality in the burden of service.

Meanwhile, Defense Minister Yoav Galant maintained his refusal to present the principles of the conscription law to the cabinet without agreement from Minister Benny Gantz. Efforts to reach consensus were further complicated by the absence of ultra-Orthodox representatives from discussions.

In a related development, the state requested a postponement of the High Court's deadline for responding to petitions regarding support for the ultra-Orthodox and conscription issues, citing the need for additional time to address the complex legal and political considerations.