Israel’s military today sent draft cards to members of the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community, aiming to bolster its forces as it battles a two-front war in Gaza Strip and him Lebanon.

Israel’s Supreme Court ruled in June that the Defense Ministry cannot exempt all Talmudic school students without exception from mandatory military service, a measure that has been in place since the founding of the state of Israel in 1948, when the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community she was very young.

As the war against Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon continues, the Israeli Defense Ministry announced on Friday that 7,000 ultra-orthodox Jews will gradually be called up to serve in the army from today.

In its statement, the ministry stressed that it will work with community leaders to ensure that the ultra-Orthodox can maintain their religious lifestyle during their term.

In July the Israeli army called for 1,000 ultra-Orthodox men to report.

However, two religious parties in the coalition under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu strongly oppose conscription of the ultra-Orthodox, an issue causing tension in the government.

Leaders of the fast-growing ultra-Orthodox community complain that if students at talmudic schools are forced to serve in the army along with other Israelis – including women – they risk losing their identity.

On the other hand, the government is under increasing pressure from reservists, many of whom have been serving in the army for most of the past year, to enlist ultra-Orthodox men as well.

Israel’s Kan radio station reported today that rabbis are calling on the ultra-Orthodox who received conscription papers to refuse to report to the army.