Israel’s ultra-Orthodox leaders failed. That’s why they may stick with Netanyahu

Israel’s ultra-Orthodox public and leadership were prepared for the High Court’s verdict on Tuesday.

They were not surprised that the court ruled members of their community were not exempt from military service.

They expected this decision, knowing which way it was heading, and some even anticipated a worse outcome.

The court also ruled that the state could no longer fund ultra-Orthodox education services, a severe blow to a community reliant on such aid. But some ultra-Orthodox Jews, known in Hebrew as the Haredim, had feared the court would impose severe sanctions on students of religious seminaries, yeshivas, who refuse to enlist.

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