Israel’s Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the military must begin drafting ultra-Orthodox men for compulsory service, ending a decades-old system of broad exemptions.

This landmark decision could destabilize Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition as Israel continues its conflict in Gaza.

The ruling addresses longstanding criticism that the exemption system was discriminatory, creating a divide within the Jewish majority over military service responsibilities, the Associated Press has reported.

The court’s decision follows the striking down of a 2017 law that formalized these exemptions, and despite delays, it now mandates that compulsory service applies to all citizens, including the ultra-Orthodox.

Written by B.C. Begley