But its ultra-Orthodox Jewish community has an exemption to military service going back decades.

Now, the defence minister says they need to join the fight.

But can a national consensus be reached on such a divisive issue?

And can Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government survive the fallout from such a policy change?

Presenter:

Hashem Ahelbarra

Guests:

Efraim Inbar – President of The Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security

Akiva Eldar – Political analyst and former columnist for Israel’s Haaretz newspaper

Yehoshua Pfeffer – Community rabbi and executive member of Netzah Yehuda