Heat in Israel's Political Kitchen: Ultra-Orthodox Military Conscription Dispute
Potential collapse of Netanyahu's administration due to military service controversy
Jerusalem's political scene is sizzling like a shawarma stand on a summer day, thanks to a fiery dispute over military conscription for ultra-Orthodox men. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's ruling coalition could be in jeopardy, teetering on the brink of instability. Leading rabbis from the United Torah Judaism party have publicly stated their intent to buckle under Netanyahu's belt and exit the coalition.
The final act in this political dance remains a mystery. With a last-minute agreement still a possibility, the fate of Netanyahu's government hangs in the balance. Next week, opposition parties are gearing up to instigate parliamentary dissolution proceedings.
At present, the government holds a slender majority of 68 out of 120 seats in the parliament. If the United Torah Judaism party, with its seven seats, joins the exodus, followed by Shas, which boasts eleven seats, Netanyahu's government would be plunged into minority rule.
As per polls, Netanyahu's political rivals might seize the majority in any snap elections. October 2025 is the scheduled date for the next general elections.
Ultra-Orthodox Jews and the Military: A Contentious Marriage
For decades, ultra-Orthodox men in Israel have been granted exemptions from military conscription – a privilege that's now under threat. The expiration of this exemption last year went unaddressed by the Israeli government, which eventually led to a ruling by the Supreme Court in the sweltering summer of 2024. The court declared that ultra-Orthodox men must prepare for military service.
Many ultra-Orthodox Jews maintain that military service poses a grave threat to their religious lifestyle, particularly due to the co-ed nature of the military ranks. However, the military has sounded the alarm over a looming shortage of combat soldiers, given the ongoing war against Arab militant group, Hamas, in Gaza.
According to several Israelis, the exemption for ultra-Orthodox Jews seems unfair, especially when it comes to dodging dangerous combat duties.
Historical Perspective
- In June 2024, the Israeli High Court dealt a blow to the ultra-Orthodox community, ruling that the legal exemption for military service had expired, setting the stage for the conscription of ultra-Orthodox men [3][4].
- The IDF has plans to issue conscription orders to approximately 54,000 ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students in July, with a tightened grip on draft dodgers [5].
- The ultra-Orthodox parties, Shas and United Torah Judaism, have vowed to leave Netanyahu's coalition unless blanket exemptions are restored [3][4], risking a government collapse and potentially paving the way for early elections [2][3]. Haredi leaders have given coalition members an ultimatum to work towards bringing the government down [4].
This political drama in Israel is far from over, with the future of the country's government and the broader debate on military service hanging in the balance.
War-and-conflicts continue to shape Israel's policy-and-legislation, as the ongoing dispute over military conscription for ultra-Orthodox men threatens the stability of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's ruling coalition. The historical perspective reveals that the Israeli High Court ruled in June 2024 that the legal exemption for military service had expired, leading to threats of coalition exit from Shas and United Torah Judaism parties, and potentially early elections. General news is closely monitoring this political drama in Israel as the future of the government and the broader debate on military service hangs in the balance.
