A Government Crisis: Haredi Conscription Debate May Topple Netanyahu's Government
Potential collapse of Netanyahu administration due to military service disagreement - Potential Collapse of Netanyahu's Administration due to Draft Controversy
The Israeli government is balanced on a tightrope due to a controversial debate over haredi conscription. After failed negotiations, prominent rabbis from the United Torah Judaism (UTJ) party have vowed to leave the right-wing religious alliance of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
It remained uncertain if an eleventh-hour agreement could materialize. Multiple opposition parties are planning to push for parliamentary dissolution next week.
The cabinet currently controls a majority of 68 seats out of 120 in parliament. The UTJ party holds seven seats. Netanyahu's government would lose its majority if the second haredi party in the coalition, Shas, also decides to withdraw. It has 11 seats.
According to polls, Netanyahu's political opponents could obtain a majority in case of new elections. Regular elections are slated for October next year.
Haredi men view military service as a risk to their religious way of life
For nearly half a century, haredi men have enjoyed an exemption from military conscription in Israel. However, this exemption lacks legal grounds. In the summer of 2024, Israel's Supreme Court ruled that haredi men must participate in military service, as the currently unsupported exemption law expired.
Many haredi Jews see military service as a threat to their religious practices, particularly given the integrated nature of the service, with men and women serving together.
However, the army has expressed urgent concerns about a severe shortage of combat soldiers due to the prolonged conflict against Hamas in Gaza. Many Israelis believe it's unfair that haredi Jews are exempt from military service and dangerous combat duties.
- Military Service
- Haredi Exemption
- Israel
- Jerusalem
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
Insights:
- The High Court's ruling, issued in June 2024, stipulates that IDF and the government must draft haredi men as the exemption law has lapsed, and no such law currently exists.
- While the court order was issued, there has been minimal response from the haredi community, with less than 5% of those called up attending recruitment offices.
- Protests and political tension have resulted from the issue, with haredi leaders threatening to bring down the government if conscription ensues, and reports of confrontations between ultra-Orthodox Jews and police.
- If haredi parties withdraw from the coalition, Netanyahu could lose his parliamentary majority, leading to early elections.
- Polls indicate that approximately 68% of Israelis oppose a law that would permit haredim to evade the draft.
- If early elections are held, Netanyahu could face significant challenges in maintaining his position, as much of the blame for escalating violence in Gaza often falls on his government.
- The employment policies of the Israeli government, particularly the exemption of haredi men from military conscription, are at the heart of a contentious debate that threatens to topple Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, given the potential withdrawal of haredi parties from the coalition.
- The ongoing political crisis in Israel, triggered by the haredi conscription debate, has also been linked to general news items, such as war-and-conflicts, politics, and general news, due to concerns about a severe shortage of combat soldiers and the potential impact of early elections on the country's stability.
