Israel is routinely accused of maintaining a privileged Jewish class over Palestinian Arabs. Yet its latest election exposes a different system of institutionalized inequality: those who fight and die for the country shoulder burdens that other citizens are largely spared.
After three years of war on multiple fronts, Israelis awarded 19 Knesset seats to Israeli Arab parties and 13 to ultra-Orthodox parties. Together, more than one-quarter of Israel’s parliament now represents communities whose members overwhelmingly do not serve in the military, as Israeli Arabs are generally exempt from conscription, while ultra-Orthodox Jewish men have historically enjoyed widespread draft deferments and exemptions.
Other Israelis must leave their families, careers and studies to defend the country. They risk injury, trauma and death. Meanwhile, fellow citizens enjoy the protection of that same military without comparable obligations.
Israel has created two classes of citizenship when it comes to national defense: those expected to sacrifice and those largely exempt from sacrifice.
Those who serve must defend a democracy in which others can exercise political power to preserve their exemption from serving.
The irony is that military exemption can also be a lifelong economic disadvantage. Military service is one of Israel’s great social and economic integrators, building professional networks, leadership skills, technological expertise and lifelong relationships. Research has documented significant employment benefits from service.
The same communities spared the risks of military service often miss its economic and social rewards. Israel’s unequal service system simultaneously concentrates military sacrifice and perpetuates economic separation. Israeli Arabs and Ultra Orthodox Jew are poorer than the secular country, in general.
Universal national service, whether military or meaningful civilian service, would do more than strengthen the military. It would bring communities together, expand economic opportunity and restore the principle that citizenship carries obligations as well as rights.
Israel’s divide is not between religions or races but between those who serve and those who don’t, the secular and the religious.
