The Clash Over Military Service: Israel's Ultra-Orthodox Threaten Coalition Collapse
Ultracontemporaneous Orthodox factions threaten to shatter Israel's administrative alliance
Tensions within Israel's right-wing coalition are mounting as the ultra-Orthodox Shas party has vowed to abandon its alliance with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu unless he rescinds plans for mandatory conscription of ultra-Orthodox Jews. This impasse could potentially topple Netanyahu's coalition.
In the midst of the ongoing conflict in Gaza, the military is grappling with a lack of soldiers. This dispute, centered around the military service for ultra-Orthodox Jews, has pushed the ultra-Orthodox Shas party to the brink of breaking up the ruling coalition. If no last-minute solution is reached, Shas spokesman Ascher Medina revealed to Israel's public radio that the party will vote for the dissolution of the Knesset.
Politics and Manipulation of Faith
The Shas party is a crucial part of the right-wing coalition that has been in power since December 2022. If they leave the alliance, Netanyahu would forfeit his majority in the Kesset. In recent weeks, there's been increasing pressure within Netanyahu's Likud party to compel more ultra-Orthodox individuals into military service and impose sanctions on draft evaders. The Shas party views this as their self-proclaimed "red line," demanding lifetime exemptions from military service for ultra-Orthodox Jews. Last weekend, a Shas representative set Monday, June 9, as a deadline for a resolution on the conscription issue.
Exemptions for the Devout: A Ticking Time Bomb
Military service is mandatory in Israel. Men serve for 32 months, while women serve for two years. However, ultra-Orthodox Jews who are full-time students at religious yeshiva schools are currently exempt from military service. This exemption, initially only applied to around 400 yeshiva students during Israel's inception, now annually exempt tens of thousands of Jews aged 18 to 26, while women in this religious stream are automatically exempt from military service. Many ultra-Orthodox Jews view military service as a jeopardy to their religious lifestyle due to the co-existence of men and women in the armed forces.
The military has warned of a profound shortage of combat soldiers due to the continuous war in Gaza. Many other Israelis believe it's unjust that ultra-Orthodox Jews are exempt from military service, particularly from perilous combat missions. This issue has been fueled by the wars against Hamas in the Gaza Strip and Hezbollah in Lebanon. In 2024, the Supreme Court ruled that ultra-Orthodox men should be drafted into the military.
Timeline of the Coalition Crisis:
- June 9, 2025: Shas announced its intention to vote in favor of dissolving the Knesset due to dissatisfaction with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's handling of draft exemptions for ultra-Orthodox Jews. United Torah Judaism (UTJ) was also expected to support this move. References: 2 | 3 | 4
- June 10, 2025: The Knesset prepared for a preliminary vote to dissolve the government, which would trigger early elections. Without the support of Shas and UTJ, Netanyahu's coalition only has 50 seats - far short of the 61-seat majority needed to maintain power. Reference: 4
- June 11, 2025: A meeting between Shas and Degel HaTorah (a faction within UTJ) failed to reach an agreement on draft exemptions. Shas is pressuring Degel HaTorah to hold off on supporting the dissolution of the Knesset to give Netanyahu more time to negotiate. Reference: 1
Implications:
- Coalition Stability - The departure of Shas and UTJ would leave Netanyahu's coalition with only 50 seats, falling short of the 61-seat majority required to remain in power. Reference: 4
- Draft Exemptions - The main issue is the stalled legislation to exempt full-time yeshiva students from military service. Without new laws, existing exemptions have expired, leading to a High Court order to conscript these students. Reference: 4
- Potential Elections - If the Knesset is dissolved, elections would be held in the fall, potentially reshaping Israel's political landscape. Reference: 4
- Negotiations - Netanyahu and his allies are actively negotiating a compromise to keep the Haredi parties in the coalition, potentially by postponing sanctions on draft dodgers or offering other concessions. References: 1 | 4
Sources: trovit.com, haredim.co.il, arutzsheva.com, timesofisrael.com, jpost.com
- Keywords: Israel, Military Conscription, Benjamin Netanyahu
- The ongoing tension between the Ultra-Orthodox Shas party and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, over Military Conscription of Ultra-Orthodox Jews, is a significant matter of General-News and Politics, not just within Israel, but also within the broader context of international relations, as it involves the implementation of the UN Charter's principles of non-discrimination and equality.
- As the crisis over Military Conscription in Israel escalates, with the potential collapse of Netanyahu's coalition, the European Union, committed to the implementation of the UN Charter, may find it necessary to engage in diplomatic discussions with all relevant parties, emphasizing the importance of upholding principles of equal rights and obligations for all citizens, and the necessity of working towards a solution that ensures the integrity and security of Israel's military forces.
