logo
episode-header-image
Mar 2024
13m 3s

The military exemption dividing Israel


Reuters
About this episode

On this weekend episode we delve into the tensions over a bill to extend ultra-Orthodox Jews’ exemption from compulsory military service in Israel. As the deadline for a new conscription law looms, we explore the potential impact on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, the growing divide among Israelis, and the frustration of soldiers returning from Gaza. Join hosts Kim Vinnell and Maayan Lubell as they unpack the historical roots of this exemption, the economic strains on reservists, and the deepening rift between soldiers and politicians.


Visit the Thomson Reuters Privacy Statement for information on our privacy and data protection practices.

You may also visit megaphone.fm/adchoices to opt out of targeted advertising.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Up next
Yesterday
Gaza ceasefire, Nobel peace prize, Letitia James and Russian furloughs
Israel’s government has signed off on a ceasefire with Hamas, clearing the way to stop fighting in Gaza and free Israeli hostages. The 2025 Nobel Peace Prize winner is announced. New York Attorney General Letitia James has been charged with lying on a mortgage application. And so ... Show More
10m 55s
Oct 9
Gaza deal, Trump's threat and France's crisis
Hamas and Israel are expected to sign a deal for a Gaza ceasefire and hostage releases. National Guard troops are deployed near Chicago as Trump calls for the jailing of the city’s mayor and the Illinois governor. And could a wealth tax pushed by France's left ease the country's ... Show More
10m 50s
Oct 8
Comey in court, National Guard poll, gold and Tesla
Former FBI Director James Comey is due in federal court. A Reuters/Ipsos poll finds most Americans don't want troops deployed without an external threat. Gold smashes the $4,000 milestone for the first time. And Tesla rolls out "affordable" versions of its Model Y SUV and its Mod ... Show More
10m 44s
Recommended Episodes
Oct 2023
Israel’s war is a risk and opportunity for Saudi
Hamas’s attacks complicate Mohammed bin Salman’s aim to build relations with the Israeli state, Gulf expert Kristian Coates Ulrichsen says in this Exchange podcast. But if the Saudi crown prince can use his leverage to help Palestinians, it may help his image at home and abroad. ... Show More
32m 45s
Mar 2024
Will Ultra-Orthodox Jews serve in Israel's military?
Will Ultra-Orthodox Jews in Israel serve in its military? The government is under growing pressure to end their decades-long exemption. That's as calls are growing for ALL groups to join the army, as the war rages on in Gaza. But what would a change mean for Benjamin Netanyahu's ... Show More
24m 34s
Aug 27
Day 691 - Cabinet ignores Hamas deal as Trump plans postwar Gaza
Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Political correspondent Tal Schneider and health editor Diana Bletter join host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode. Schneider discu ... Show More
17m 24s
Sep 19
US blocks another UN Gaza ceasefire attempt
The United States has, for the sixth time since the start of the war in Gaza, vetoed a draft resolution at the UN Security Council demanding an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire in the Palestinian territory. The US said that the resolution failed to recognise Israe ... Show More
30m 26s
Aug 2024
‘Aggressive, illegal’ clashes raise fears of superpower war
The Philippine government criticises Beijing over a series of ‘alarming’ incidents in the South China Sea - the latest confrontations in the sea and air near disputed islands. With growing fears of a larger conflict, The Times’ Asia editor Richard Lloyd Parry outlines the potenti ... Show More
10m 38s
Sep 1
Day 696 - Would Trump seriously consider Gaza relocation plan?
Political correspondent Tal Schneider and reporter Sue Surkes join host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode. The security cabinet met for some six hours on Sunday night, but didn't raise the current hostage deal during last night's lengthy meeting, according to Schneider. There ... Show More
18m 39s
Sep 30
Gaza Conflict: Two years on
To mark two years of the war in Gaza, our correspondents bring you this special episode of the Global News Podcast from the BBC Bureau in Jerusalem. Jon Donnison is joined by our Gaza correspondent Rushdi Abualouf, our International Editor Jeremy Bowen, and our Middle East corres ... Show More
31m 58s
Sep 2024
Could Israel's striking workers end the war in Gaza? + Headlines
Much of Israel’s economy ground to a halt overnight, during the country’s first major workers’ strike since the start of the war. The strike shut down Israel’s international airport and disrupted banks, manufacturing facilities, healthcare facilities and businesses, as Israelis e ... Show More
20m 16s
Sep 27
Day 722 - Yossi Klein Halevi: Struggling to make moral sense of the Gaza war
Welcome to What Matters Now, a weekly podcast exploring key issues currently shaping Israel and the Jewish World, with host deputy editor Amanda Borschel-Dan speaking with Yossi Klein Halevi. This week, we speak with Hartman Institute senior fellow, author and thinker Yossi Klein ... Show More
51m 28s