A fresh crisis has emerged in Israeli politics as a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition threatened to back an opposition motion to dissolve parliament, increasing pressure on the embattled premier.
The ultra-Orthodox party United Torah Judaism (UTJ) warned it would withdraw from the government unless last-minute concessions were made to formalize the long-standing exemption of ultra-Orthodox men from mandatory military service. Without this, UTJ leader Yitzhak Goldknopf’s party may vote in favor of an opposition-led motion to dissolve the Knesset next week.
The motion, spearheaded by opposition leader and former Prime Minister Yair Lapid’s Yesh Atid party, needs the support of 61 out of 120 lawmakers to succeed. “This Knesset is finished. It has nowhere to go,” Lapid declared.
Netanyahu’s coalition, which includes secular right-wing and ultra-Orthodox parties, currently holds a slim 8-seat majority. UTJ has 7 seats, while its ultra-Orthodox ally Shas holds 11. The proposed exemption has deeply divided the coalition, with secular allies resisting a blanket waiver for religious seminary students, a practice increasingly criticized by the wider public and lawmakers from both sides.
Coalition member Ohad Tal of the Religious Zionism party condemned the threat, urging negotiations and calling for an end to automatic exemptions. “It can no longer stand,” he said.
Though Netanyahu has remained silent on the matter, sources say behind-the-scenes negotiations are ongoing. Analysts believe the prime minister may be gambling that ultra-Orthodox leaders are bluffing, especially since recent polls suggest his coalition would lose power in a snap election.
This is not the first time the exemption issue has threatened the government. A similar crisis in March passed without action, but public resentment continues to build—particularly against the backdrop of the ongoing war in Gaza, triggered by the October 2023 Hamas attack that killed about 1,200 Israelis.
Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, won the last election in 2022 and is not due to face voters again until 2026. However, historically few Israeli governments serve a full term.
With pressure mounting from protesters, families of hostages, and coalition partners alike, Netanyahu now faces a delicate balancing act—between maintaining political power and navigating one of the most divisive issues in Israeli society.
Source: Reuters
