Israel to issue 54,000 call-up notices to ultra-Orthodox students
The Supreme Court ruling last year overturned a decades-old exemption for ultra-Orthodox students, a policy established when the community comprised a far smaller segment of the population than the 13% it represents today.
Military service is compulsory for most Israeli Jews from the age of 18, lasting 24-32 months, with additional reserve duty in subsequent years. Members of Israel's 21% Arab population are mostly exempt, though some do serve.
A statement by the military spokesperson confirmed the orders on Sunday just as local media reported legislative efforts by two ultra-Orthodox parties in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition to craft a compromise.
The exemption issue has grown more contentious as Israel's armed forces in recent years have faced strains from simultaneous engagements with Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, Houthis in Yemen, and Iran.
Ultra-Orthodox leaders in Netanyahu's brittle coalition have voiced concerns that integrating seminary students into military units alongside secular Israelis, including women, could jeopardize their religious identity.
The military statement promised to ensure conditions that respect the ultra-Orthodox way of life and to develop additional programmes to support their integration into the military. It said the notices would go out this month.
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History Today: When London was rocked by its worst terror attack since World War II
On the morning of July 7, 2005, a series of explosions struck London during rush hour. Bombs detonated in three crowded London Underground trains and on a city bus. The suicide attacks killed 56 people, including the bombers, and injured around 700 others. It was the deadliest terror attack in Britain since World War II. The bombings happened while world leaders, including British Prime Minister Tony Blair, were attending the G8 summit in Scotland read more On July 7, 2005, London faced its worst attack since World War II when bombs went off at three Underground stations and on a double-decker bus. The suicide bombings killed 56 people, including the bombers, and around 700 others were injured. Also on this day in 1981, US President Ronald Reagan announced he was putting forward Arizona Judge Sandra Day O'Connor's name to become the first female justice to serve on the US Supreme Court. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD As part of Firstpost Explainers' History Today series, here's a look at what happened on July 7: 2005 London bombings On the morning of July 7, 2005, London was hit by a series of explosions during rush hour. Bombs went off in three busy Underground trains and on a city bus. The suicide attacks, believed at the time to be linked to al-Qaeda, killed 56 people, including the bombers, and left about 700 injured. This was the deadliest attack on Britain since World War II. No alert was issued before the blasts. The train bombs went off on the London Underground around 8:50 am, in three different locations. The London Underground train which was involved in an explosion at Aldgate Underground station. Reuters/File Photo About an hour later, a double-decker bus near Tavistock Square on Upper Woburn Place was also targeted. The blast tore the roof off the bus. The bombings took place while world leaders, including British Prime Minister Tony Blair, were gathered at the G8 summit in Scotland. Speaking shortly after the news broke, Blair described the attacks as barbaric and said the timing, during the summit, was likely deliberate. Of the four bombers, three were born in Britain and one in Jamaica. On September 1, 2005, al-Qaeda officially claimed responsibility in a video aired on the Al-Jazeera network. Just two weeks later, on July 21, another four men tried to carry out a second set of attacks on the city's transport system. But these bombs did not go off as planned. The suspects were arrested by the end of the month. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Sandra Day nominated to US Supreme Court On this day in 1981, US President Ronald Reagan declared that he would nominate Arizona Judge Sandra Day O'Connor to the Supreme Court, making her the first woman ever to be chosen for the role. During his 1980 campaign, Reagan had vowed to nominate a woman to the top court as soon as the chance arose. He picked O'Connor from a list of around two dozen male and female candidates as his first Supreme Court nominee. The US Senate later unanimously approved her appointment on September 21. She was sworn in by Chief Justice Warren Burger on September 25. US President Reagan presents his Supreme Court nominee Sandra Day O'Connor in the Rose Garden of the White House. AP/File Photo Sandra Day earned her law degree in just two years and graduated near the top of her class. She went on to marry John Jay O'Connor III, a fellow student. Despite her academic success, she faced rejection from law firms because she was a woman. She then entered public service and got a job as deputy county attorney in San Mateo, California. In 1953, her husband was drafted into the US Army and posted to West Germany as a military judge. Sandra worked there as a civilian lawyer for the army. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD She became Arizona's assistant attorney general in 1965 and was appointed to a vacant seat in the state senate in 1969. After winning elections, she became the first woman in the country to serve as majority leader of a state senate. This Day, That Year 1797: For the first time in US history, the House of Representatives used its power to impeach and voted to charge Senator William Blount of Tennessee. 1898: The United States annexed Hawaii, which later became a territory in 1900 and a state in 1959. 1981: Former India captain and legendary wicketkeeper-batter Mahendra Singh Dhoni was born. 2013: Andy Murray ended a 77-year wait for a British men's singles champion at Wimbledon by beating Novak Djokovic in the final. 2021: Haitian President Jovenel Moise was assassinated, and his wife was injured in a late-night attack at their home.
The Hindu
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- The Hindu
Israel launches airstrikes targeting Yemen's Houthi rebels; Houthis hit back with missiles
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The ship attack comes at a sensitive moment in the Middle East, as a possible ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war hangs in the balance and as Iran weighs whether to restart negotiations over its nuclear program following American airstrikes targeting its most-sensitive atomic sites during an Israeli war against the Islamic Republic. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also was travelling to Washington to meet with Mr. Trump. Israeli strikes target Houthi-held ports The Israeli military said it struck Houthi-held ports at Hodeida, Ras Isa and Salif, as well as the Ras Kanatib power plant. 'These ports are used by the Houthi terrorist regime to transfer weapons from the Iranian regime, which are employed to carry out terrorist operations against the state of Israel and its allies,' the Israeli military said. The Israeli military also said it struck the Galaxy Leader, a vehicle-carrying vessel that the Houthis seized back in November 2023 when they began their attacks in the Red Sea corridor over the Israel-Hamas war. 'Houthi forces installed a radar system on the ship and have been using it to track vessels in the international maritime arena to facilitate further terrorist activities,' the Israeli military said. The Bahamas-flagged Galaxy Leader was affiliated with an Israeli billionaire. It said no Israelis were on board. The ship had been operated by a Japanese firm NYK Line. The Houthis acknowledged the strikes, but offered no damage assessment from the attack. Their military spokesman, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, claimed its air defense forces 'effectively confronted' the Israelis without offering evidence. Israel has repeatedly atacked Houthi areas in Yemen, including a naval strike in June. Both Israel and the United States have struck ports in the area in the past — including an American attack that killed 74 people in April — but Israel is now acting alone in attacking the rebels as they continue to fire missiles at Israel. Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz threatened further strikes. 'What's true for Iran is true for Yemen,' Mr. Katz said in a statement. 'Anyone who raises a hand against Israel will have it cut off. The Houthis will continue to pay a heavy price for their actions.' The Houthis then responded with an apparent missile attack on Israel. The Israeli military said it attempted to intercept the missile, but it appeared to make impact, though there were no immediate reports of injuries. Sirens sounded in the West Bank and along the Dead Sea. Ship attack forces crew to abandon vessel The attack on the Magic Seas, a bulk carrier heading north to Egypt's Suez Canal, happened some 100 kilometres (60 miles) southwest of Hodeida, Yemen, which is held by the Houthis. The British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre first said that an armed security team on the vessel had returned fire against an initial attack of gunfire and rocket-propelled grenades, though the vessel later was struck by projectiles. Ambrey, a private maritime security firm, issued an alert saying that a merchant ship had been 'attacked by eight skiffs while transiting northbound in the Red Sea.' Ambrey later said the ship also had been attacked by bomb-carrying drone boats, which could be a major escalation. It said two drone boats struck the ship, while another two had been destroyed by the armed guards on board. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre said the ship was taking on water and its crew had abandoned the vessel. 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Houthi attacks came over Israel-Hamas war The Houthi rebels have been launching missile and drone attacks against commercial and military ships in the region in what the group's leadership has described as an effort to end Israel's offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The group's al-Masirah satellite news channel acknowledged the attack occurred, but offered no other comment on it as it aired a speech by its secretive leader, Abdul Malik al-Houthi. However, Ambrey said the Magic Seas met 'the established Houthi target profile,' without elaborating. Between November 2023 and January 2025, the Houthis targeted more than 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones, sinking two of them and killing four sailors. Their campaign has greatly reduced the flow of trade through the Red Sea corridor, which typically sees $1 trillion of goods move through it annually. Shipping through the Red Sea, while still lower than normal, has increased in recent weeks. The Houthis paused attacks until the U.S. launched a broad assault against the rebels in mid-March. That ended weeks later and the Houthis haven't attacked a vessel, though they have continued occasional missile attacks targeting Israel. On Sunday, the group claimed launching an earlier missile at Israel which the Israeli military said it intercepted.
New Indian Express
an hour ago
- New Indian Express
Israel launches airstrikes targeting Yemen's Houthi rebels, and Houthis launch missile at Israel
Israeli strikes target Houthi-held ports The Israeli military said it struck Houthi-held ports at Hodeida, Ras Isa and Salif, as well as the Ras Kanatib power plant. 'These ports are used by the Houthi terrorist regime to transfer weapons from the Iranian regime, which are employed to carry out terrorist operations against the state of Israel and its allies,' the Israeli military said. The Israeli military also said it struck the Galaxy Leader, a vehicle-carrying vessel that the Houthis seized back in November 2023 when they began their attacks in the Red Sea corridor over the Israel-Hamas war. 'Houthi forces installed a radar system on the ship and have been using it to track vessels in the international maritime arena to facilitate further terrorist activities,' the Israeli military said. The Bahamas-flagged Galaxy Leader was affiliated with an Israeli billionaire. It said no Israelis were on board. The ship had been operated by a Japanese firm NYK Line. The Houthis acknowledged the strikes, but offered no damage assessment from the attack. Their military spokesman, Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, claimed its air defense forces 'effectively confronted' the Israelis without offering evidence. Israel has repeatedly atacked Houthi areas in Yemen, including a naval strike in June. Both Israel and the United States have struck ports in the area in the past — including an American attack that killed 74 people in April — but Israel is now acting alone in attacking the rebels as they continue to fire missiles at Israel. Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz threatened further strikes. 'What's true for Iran is true for Yemen,' Katz said in a statement. 'Anyone who raises a hand against Israel will have it cut off. The Houthis will continue to pay a heavy price for their actions.' The Houthis then responded with an apparent missile attack on Israel. The Israeli military said it attempted to intercept the missile, but it appeared to make impact, though there were no immediate reports of injuries. Sirens sounded in the West Bank and along the Dead Sea.
