Amidst the escalating crisis regarding exemptions from military service, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to meet with Knesset member Yuli Edelstein and representatives of the ultra-Orthodox parties in an attempt to find a solution to the crisis. However, the newspaper "Haaretz" reported a source from the "United Torah Judaism" coalition stating that the party does not have high hopes for the anticipated meeting, stating, "Dozens of similar meetings have already been held... There is no reason to believe that anything new will be discussed this time."
Senior rabbis from "United Torah Judaism" announced on Wednesday that the party would withdraw its support for the government amidst a dispute about forcing ultra-Orthodox Jewish men to serve in the Israeli army. The party, which represents the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community, holds seven of the 120 seats in the Israeli parliament (Knesset).
In this context, Haaretz quoted one of Netanyahu’s close ministers predicting on Thursday that the government might collapse in the winter. He added, "There are enough reasons to believe that the coalition will not hold after a few months from the Knesset’s return from the summer recess." He continued, "The reason could be the draft law, Smotrich's polls, or the budget; these are aspects that seem impossible at the moment."
Netanyahu’s right-wing government currently holds 68 seats, meaning that the withdrawal of "United Torah Judaism" would put his majority at risk. Several opposition parties may attempt to dissolve the parliament next week, as polls indicate that Netanyahu might lose in the upcoming elections, scheduled for October.
The issue of drafting devoutly religious Israeli men into the army has always been a point of contention within Netanyahu’s coalition. The issue has resurfaced due to the war in Gaza, where leaders warned of an urgent shortage of soldiers ready for combat. Although members of the ultra-Orthodox communities have been exempted from mandatory military service for decades, this exemption ended last year, and the government failed to pass new legislation to maintain this special status. The Supreme Court ruled in the summer of 2024 to draft ultra-Orthodox men into military service.
Many ultra-Orthodox Jews see military service as threatening their religious lifestyle, partly because men and women serve together in the army.