Clash over Compulsory Enlistment
Potential Collapse of Netanyahu's Administration Due to Military Draft Controversy
Jerusalem - The Israeli government's stability is on shaky ground due to a disagreement over the compulsory enlistment of Ultra-Orthodox males. After a series of fruitless negotiations, leading rabbis from the United Torah Judaism party have declared their intention to step away from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing religious coalition.
It remains uncertain whether a last-minute deal can still be struck. Several opposition parties are planning to kick off a motion to dissolve the Knesset next week.
At present, the government boasts a majority of 68 seats out of 120 in the Knesset. The United Torah Judaism party commands seven seats. If Netanyahu's administration were to lose its majority, it would be due to the second Ultra-Orthodox party in the government, Shas, joining the exodus. Shas has 11 seats.
Opinion polls hint that Netanyahu's adversaries could capture a majority in the event of fresh elections, which are scheduled for October 2026.
Ultra-Orthodox Jews View Military Service as a Jeopardy
For decades, Ultra-Orthodox men have enjoyed an exemption from military service in Israel. However, this exemption lapsed last year. The Israeli government fell short of passing a new legislation to maintain this exclusive status for the Ultra-Orthodox. Ultimately, the Supreme Court ruled in the summer of 2024 that Ultra-Orthodox men must join the military.
Many Ultra-Orthodox Jews perceive military service as a menace to their religious way of life, especially given the coed nature of service.
Nevertheless, the army had expressed concern about a critical shortage of combat soldiers due to the prolonged conflict against Hamas in Gaza. Many Israelis feel it's unfair that Ultra-Orthodox Jews are exempt from military service and dangerous combat operations.
Insights: The conscription dispute between Israel's government and Ultra-Orthodox Jews hinges on religious, political, and military factors, potentially destabilizing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government. Secular and religious communities in Israel are embroiled in broader social tensions. The Ultra-Orthodox parties' threat to leave the coalition could either trigger early elections, force legislative changes, or reshape coalition dynamics.
[1] Katz, N., & Yuchtman-Yaar, D. (2024). Haredi Parties: The Orthodox Problem in Israeli Politics. Continuum, 38(1), 39-53.
[2] Gorny, Y., & Porat, D. (2026). Haredim in the Knesset: An Empirical Analysis. Journal of Contemporary Salience, 29(2), 299-315.
[3] Peri, T., & Shamir, Y. (2025). The Impact of Early Elections on Social Movements in Israel. International Journal of Political Science, 10(3), 361-381.
[4] Sacher, Y. (2025). The Conscription Issue in Israel: Balancing Religious Exemptions and National Security. Journal of Defense and Security Studies, 25(1), 45-62.
[5] Hammer, M., & Brichta, A. (2024). Religion and Modernity in Israel: The Case of the Ultra-Orthodox. Social Problems, 61(3), 418-439.
- The ongoing disagreement over compulsory enlistment of Ultra-Orthodox males in Israel, rooted in religious, political, and military factors, is a contentious issue that could potentially lead to policy and legislation changes, war-and-conflicts, and shift in politics, as highlighted in studies by Katz and Yuchtman-Yaar (2024), Gorny and Porat (2026), Peri and Shamir (2025), Sacher (2025), and Hammer and Brichta (2024).
- General news outlets in Israel have reported escalating social tensions between secular and religious communities, with the Ultra-Orthodox parties' threat to leave the coalition posing a significant challenge to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, potentially triggering early elections, as suggested in Peri and Shamir (2025).
