Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is in trouble as he faces a series of unwinnable dilemmas. His situation has only been worsened by the Israeli Supreme Court’s decision on Tuesday to strike down the ultra-Orthodox community’s draft exception. Many Israel Defense Forces reservists have had to serve two or three tours in Gaza as the war drags into its ninth month. At the same time, Netanyahu’s coalition relies on ultra-Orthodox parties’ support.

The exemption for the ultra-Orthodox, known as the Haredim, has existed since the founding of the state of Israel. All other Jewish men and women have to serve three years and two years respectively. This exemption for the Haredim was less contentious when their population was smaller. But their larger families have led them to expand to 24% of the recruitment-age population. Most Haredim oppose their conscription and a significant number oppose military service in any form.