Netanyahu’s Coalition on Brink Over Ultra-Orthodox Conscription Crisis
Sarah Johnson
June 6, 2025
Brief
Netanyahu’s coalition faces collapse over ultra-Orthodox military exemptions amid Gaza war tensions, risking early elections in Israel.
Israel’s political landscape is teetering on the edge of chaos as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition faces a potential collapse over a heated dispute on military conscription. The ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) parties, crucial allies in his government, are threatening to bolt, with the Council of Torah Scholars directing Agudat Yisrael to push a bill to dissolve the Knesset as early as next week.
At the heart of this crisis is the long-standing exemption of Haredi men from mandatory military service—a policy that’s become a lightning rod amid the ongoing war in Gaza. While most Israeli men serve three years and women two, roughly 60,000 ultra-Orthodox men of conscription age are currently exempt, a disparity that’s fueling widespread resentment. As the IDF grapples with troop shortages, public frustration has hit a fever pitch, especially post the October 7 massacre.
Netanyahu’s coalition is walking a tightrope. With 18 seats from ultra-Orthodox parties like Shas and United Torah Judaism, he can ill afford their departure. Yet, their demand for new legislation to cement these exemptions clashes with a Supreme Court ruling in March that deemed the policy unconstitutional. If they walk, early elections—possibly as soon as October 21, 2025—could be inevitable. Polls suggest Netanyahu’s coalition would lose power if a vote were held today.
The opposition, led by Yair Lapid’s Yesh Atid, is seizing the moment, with a bill to dissolve the Knesset set for a vote on June 11. It needs just 61 votes to pass, a threshold that could be met if even a handful of coalition members defect. Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett is staging a comeback with a new party, projected to outpace Netanyahu’s Likud in potential seats.
With the Knesset recess looming in late July, Netanyahu has mere weeks to stabilize his government. But as tensions over who fights and who doesn’t boil over, the question remains: can he hold the line, or is this the beginning of the end for his coalition?
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Editor's Comments
Well, folks, it seems Netanyahu’s coalition is playing a high-stakes game of musical chairs, and the ultra-Orthodox might just stop the music. Exemptions from military service while Gaza burns? That’s like handing out umbrellas in a hurricane and saying, ‘You’re good, stay dry!’ The real joke here is thinking 60,000 potential soldiers sitting out won’t march this government straight to an early election. Keep your popcorn ready—Knesset drama is the new blockbuster.
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