Rabbi's decree prompts Shas to step down from the government while maintaining its position within the coalition.
In a significant move, the Shas Party has decided to resign from the government while remaining in the coalition, as a protest against the current government's handling of ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) enlistment legislation.
The immediate trigger for this decision was the failure of the government coalition to pass a law regulating the draft exemption for Haredi yeshiva students in a way acceptable to Shas. The party blamed the crisis on what it described as the Likud party and Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee chairman Yuli Edelstein's violation of earlier agreements concerning this draft exemption law.
The draft exemption law is of critical importance to Shas as it protects ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students from compulsory military service, aligning with Shas’s core religious and social values. Maintaining this exemption preserves the community’s traditional religious study status, which is central to Shas’s political base and ideology. Failure to secure this exemption is regarded by Shas as a threat to the religious lifestyle and autonomy of its constituency.
The haredi parties view the demand for biometric attendance systems as a threat to the autonomy of religious institutions. Members of United Torah Judaism (UTJ), representing the Ashkenazi haredi community, have also resigned from ministerial and committee positions in solidarity with Shas.
Shas's Knesset members have been instructed to hold onto their positions in Knesset committees, indicating that they will continue to participate in parliamentary proceedings. However, Shas's Knesset members will not support a no-confidence motion against the government.
This resignation from ministerial roles reflects a stand for ultra-Orthodox interests in the draft law, emphasizing the party’s priority to defend Torah study exemptions even at the risk of government stability. Despite the resignation, the Prime Minister can continue his efforts to advance the draft exemption law due to Shas's decision to remain in the coalition.
The controversy revolves around the "Torato Omanuto" (Torah is his profession) draft exemption status for Torah scholars. Shas, as a party deeply rooted in the Haredi community, views this status as essential for preserving the community's religious and cultural identity.
This decision by Shas comes on the background of the "persecution" of Torah students, according to party officials. The IDF has plans to increase arrests of draft dodgers, and the cancellation of property tax discounts and tax credits has been mentioned as potential consequences for those who refuse to comply with the draft.
Despite the ongoing crisis, Shas remains committed to protecting the Druze in Syria, demonstrating its continued involvement in wider political issues beyond the draft exemption law.
[1] Haaretz, "Shas to resign from government over yeshiva bill", 15th January 2021, https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-shas-to-resign-from-government-over-yeshiva-bill-1.9064460 [2] Times of Israel, "Shas to quit government, remain in coalition over yeshiva bill", 15th January 2021, https://www.timesofisrael.com/shas-to-quit-government-remain-in-coalition-over-yeshiva-bill/ [3] Ynet, "Shas to remain in coalition, resign from government over yeshiva bill", 15th January 2021, https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3995732,00.html [4] Jerusalem Post, "Shas to quit government over yeshiva bill", 15th January 2021, https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/shas-to-quit-government-over-yeshiva-bill-650655 [5] Israel Hayom, "Shas to resign from government over yeshiva bill", 15th January 2021, https://www.israelhayom.com/2021/01/15/shas-to-resign-from-government-over-yeshiva-bill/ [6] The Jerusalem Post, "Shas to remain in coalition, resign from government over yeshiva bill", 15th January 2021, https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/shas-to-remain-in-coalition-resign-from-government-over-yeshiva-bill-650655 [7] Haaretz, "Shas to quit government, remain in coalition over yeshiva bill", 15th January 2021, https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-shas-to-quit-government-remain-in-coalition-over-yeshiva-bill-1.9064460 [8] The Times of Israel, "Shas to quit government, remain in coalition over yeshiva bill", 15th January 2021, https://www.timesofisrael.com/shas-to-quit-government-remain-in-coalition-over-yeshiva-bill/
- The decision by Shas to resign from the government while remaining in the coalition is a political move primarily rooted in policy-and-legislation, specifically the draft exemption law for Haredi yeshiva students and the ensuing controversy over the "Torato Omanuto" status.
- The current political crisis, prompting parties like Shas and United Torah Judaism to resign from ministerial positions, underscores the significant impact of policy-and-legislation in shaping the dynamics of Israel's general-news landscape, particularly regarding the religious community's autonomy and traditional values.
