Orthodox Joining the Army

In Israel until very recently the Orthodox Jews did not have to join the army. As of now there is a law saying that they do need to join the army. I haven't read all the details yet but the law is very lenient. But the Orthodox people are not happy about it. This coming Sunday there will be a protest. Today I was on a bus in Jerusalem and I heard an Orthodox man talking to the bus driver about how crazy the riot is going to be on Sunday and how hopefully he was that it was going to change the new law.
Personal Opinion: I think that if in Israel everyone is required to join the army, then that should mean everyone. Orthodox people should not be excluded from this law. The Orthodox viewpoint is that they are serving the country through their religion, spirituality, and their studies. But everyone else in Israel has to serve the country by joining the army and possibly putting their lives at risk. The country not only was allowing them to stay out of the army but was also giving money for them to study in the Yashieva. To me that just isn't fair. After my time in Gadna, the army experience, I have a new respect for the army. It was a very intense and hard week. Not only is it physically hard but I can imagine the environment gets emotionally hard as well, especially as a real solider. During Gadna we slept on pieces of foam that were so thin you could feel the springs underneath. We had thin sleeping bags and no pillows. The meals were not good and serving size was limited. The bathrooms were less than appealing and you had to have your own toilet paper or none at all. Toilet paper is a privilege, not a right. Nights of sleep weren't very long and days were full of activity. Always on your feet and moving. Or standing in attention for long periods of time, which may not sound too bad but is harsh on the back and shoulders. Free time is only about an hour and a half a day and is usually taken up by eating, using the bathroom, showering, and cleaning up your living space. Beds had to be taken apart every morning and remade every night. There is a specific way everything should look including your uniform and if it isn't too standard you are punished, in my case only 3 pushups for every mess up. The people of Israel have to go through this, and not just a simulation like I did, they go through the real thing for 2-3 years of their lives, if not more. They have to put their lives on hold for their country to join the army. They sleep with guns under their pillows, they go on 40 mile walks to gain character, they have to worry about their lives being at risk, whether or not they are safe. Meanwhile the Orthodox are finding partners, settling down, studying, and living their lives. Does that seem fair?