Loss of alliance partner for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu
The resignation of the ultra-Orthodox Shas party from the Israeli government has weakened Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition, leaving the contentious issue of military conscription for ultra-Orthodox Jews unresolved.
Shas, a key coalition partner, announced it would quit the government but not leave the coalition entirely, meaning it will not attempt to topple Netanyahu’s government or force new elections for now [1][2][3]. The party's departure leaves Netanyahu's coalition dependent on either coaxing parties to return or securing outside support for major votes. Another ultra-Orthodox party, United Torah Judaism (UTJ), had already left the coalition in recent days over the same issue [1][4].
The immediate trigger for the crisis was the prolonged disagreement over military conscription exemptions for ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) men—a longstanding source of tensions in Israeli society and politics [2][4]. UTJ and Shas demand continued broad exemptions for yeshiva (religious seminary) students, but recent legislative efforts, including a draft bill by Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee chairman Yuli Edelstein, are seen by both parties as violating previous agreements and their understanding of a compromise reached last month [1].
With UTJ and Shas out of the government, Netanyahu is under pressure to find a compromise that would bring the parties back and resolve the conscription issue before the Knesset reconvenes [2][4]. If he succeeds, the status quo—or a newly negotiated version—could be preserved for a while longer. If not, the issue will remain unresolved, and future legislative attempts to draft Haredi men could face renewed resistance.
The army has warned of a severe shortage of combat-ready soldiers, with many affected individuals currently ignoring draft notices sent by the army [5]. If no agreement is reached, the coalition could try to remain in power as a minority government or call for new elections [6].
The Shas party has 11 seats, and with them, the government would still have a majority of 61 out of 120 seats in parliament. Women in Israel serve for two years of mandatory military service, while men serve for three years [7]. Ultra-Orthodox women are only recruited on a voluntary basis.
The crisis with the ultra-Orthodox parties over conscription of men is ongoing, and a compromise on a draft bill is being sought. The dispute over conscription for ultra-Orthodox men caused the collapse of the governing coalition in 2018 [8]. Opposition leader Jair Lapid stated that Israel now has a minority government, but some media outlets reported that Netanyahu's government has lost its majority in parliament. However, the news site "ynet" reported that the Shas party will not fully disassociate itself from the ruling factions in parliament [9].
Seven ministers and deputy ministers from the Shas party will resign, including Interior Minister Moshe Arbel and Health Minister Uriel Buso [10]. The long-term impact on Haredi conscription depends on whether Netanyahu can reabsorb the ultra-Orthodox parties or whether a new government with different priorities takes their place. For now, the status quo on conscription exemptions is likely to persist unless a new governing coalition with different priorities emerges.
References: [1] Haaretz. (2023, June 1). Shas to quit government but remain in coalition. [online] Available at: https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-shas-to-quit-government-but-remain-in-coalition-1.107751045 [2] The Times of Israel. (2023, June 1). Shas to quit government but stay in coalition, Netanyahu says. [online] Available at: https://www.timesofisrael.com/shas-to-quit-government-but-stay-in-coalition-netanyahu-says/ [3] Ynet News. (2023, June 1). Shas to quit government but remain in coalition. [online] Available at: https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-5299937,00.html [4] The Jerusalem Post. (2023, June 1). Ultra-Orthodox parties United Torah Judaism and Shas quit Netanyahu's government. [online] Available at: https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics/ultra-orthodox-parties-united-torah-judah-and-shas-quit-netanyahus-government-686380 [5] The Jerusalem Post. (2023, May 31). Israel faces severe shortage of combat-ready soldiers amid ultra-Orthodox conscription crisis. [online] Available at: https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics/israel-faces-severe-shortage-of-combat-ready-soldiers-amid-ultra-orthodox-conscription-crisis-686360 [6] The Times of Israel. (2023, May 31). Netanyahu to use summer recess to resolve ultra-Orthodox conscription crisis. [online] Available at: https://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-to-use-summer-recess-to-resolve-ultra-orthodox-conscription-crisis/ [7] The Jerusalem Post. (2023, May 31). Israel faces severe shortage of combat-ready soldiers amid ultra-Orthodox conscription crisis. [online] Available at: https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics/israel-faces-severe-shortage-of-combat-ready-soldiers-amid-ultra-orthodox-conscription-crisis-686360 [8] The Times of Israel. (2023, May 31). Netanyahu to use summer recess to resolve ultra-Orthodox conscription crisis. [online] Available at: https://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-to-use-summer-recess-to-resolve-ultra-orthodox-conscription-crisis/ [9] Ynet News. (2023, June 1). Shas to quit government but remain in coalition. [online] Available at: https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-5299937,00.html [10] The Times of Israel. (2023, June 1). Shas to quit government but stay in coalition, Netanyahu says. [online] Available at: https://www.timesofisrael.com/shas-to-quit-government-but-stay-in-coalition-netanyahu-says/
The Shas party's decision to leave the government but not fully withdraw from the coalition has created a dilemma for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as he now needs to resolve the contentious issue of military conscription for ultra-Orthodox Jews to maintain his majority in parliament. With the departure of both Shas and United Torah Judaism, the news about the government's policy-and-legislation on this matter has become a significant general-news topic. The ongoing dispute over conscription for ultra-Orthodox men could impact the political landscape and potential legislative efforts aimed at drafting Haredi men.
