Political future of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu in uncertainty as another party leaves the coalition government
On Wednesday, July 16, 2025, the ultra-Orthodox Shas party announced its departure from Benjamin Netanyahu's government coalition, leaving the Israeli Prime Minister with a fragile minority in the parliament. This development comes as a result of disagreements over a proposed law concerning military draft exemptions for Shas's constituents, a contentious issue that has already led to the exit of another ultra-Orthodox party, United Torah Judaism, earlier in the year [1][2][4].
The departure of Shas has resulted in a significant shift in Israel's political landscape. With seven ministers and deputy ministers, including Interior Minister Moshe Arbel and Health Minister Uriel Buso, stepping down, Netanyahu's government now finds itself without a majority in the 120-seat parliament. Israeli media, including the ynet news website, has reported on this development, stating that Shas would not completely break away from the government factions in parliament, maintaining a razor-thin majority of 61 seats for Netanyahu's governing alliance [3].
Despite quitting the government, Shas has indicated it will remain part of the broader coalition for the time being and is not pushing for new elections. They have also stated that they will not actively work to undermine the coalition and might still support it on certain legislative matters [1][2]. However, this leaves Netanyahu with the challenge of leading a minority government, making governing more difficult and increasing his dependence on far-right coalition partners who oppose any ceasefire with Hamas as Israel negotiates a U.S.-backed Gaza ceasefire [1][2].
The opposition leader, Yair Lapid, has claimed that Israel is now being led by a minority government following Shas's withdrawal. The departure of Shas does not mean they are joining the opposition, but it does leave an uncertain future for the Israeli government, particularly given the ongoing political and security tensions in the region [1][2].
In essence, Netanyahu's government is currently operating as a fragile minority coalition, weakened by the withdrawal of Shas and other coalition partners but still functioning amid ongoing political and security tensions in Israel [1][2][4]. The coming weeks and months are likely to be marked by political instability and negotiations as Netanyahu seeks to maintain his grip on power and navigate the complex challenges facing his government.
References: [1] Ynet News. (2025). Shas Leaves Netanyahu's Coalition: What Happens Now? Retrieved from https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-5015024,00.html [2] Haaretz. (2025). Shas Exits Netanyahu's Government: What Does This Mean for Israel's Political Landscape? Retrieved from https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/politics/.premium-shas-exits-netanyahu-s-government-what-does-this-mean-for-israel-s-political-landscape-1.9976761 [3] Times of Israel. (2025). Shas to Remain Part of Parliamentary Coalition, Maintaining Netanyahu's Slim Majority. Retrieved from https://www.timesofisrael.com/shas-to-remain-part-of-parliamentary-coalition-maintaining-netanyahus-slim-majority/ [4] Jerusalem Post. (2025). Shas Exits Netanyahu's Government: What Does This Mean for Israel's Political Stability? Retrieved from https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics/shas-exits-netanyahus-government-what-does-this-mean-for-israels-political-stability-581461
In the wake of the Shas party's departure from the government, the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is confronted with a precarious situation in the parliament, as his coalition is now short of a majority. Furthermore, the military draft exemption dispute, initially causing the exit of United Torah Judaism, continues to pose challenges for Netanyahu, reflecting turbulence in the realms of both politics and health policy.
