New crisis in Israel – dispute about Ultra -Orthodox could go beyond the government

After a failed compromise investigation, the leading of rabbis of the United Tora Judaism Party has announced an exit of the coalition. It was unclear on Wednesday whether there could still be an agreement at the last minute. Opposition parties want to take a step next week to resolve the parliament.

The government of Netanyahu has a majority of 68 of the 120 seats in parliament. The United Torah Judaism party has seven seats. The government of Netanyahu would only lose its majority if the party leaked, the second strictly religious party in the government, SHAS, also followed the step. It has eleven mandates.

According to opinion surveys, the political opponents of Netanyah could win the majority in the case of a new election. The next elections will only take place regularly in October next year.

Supreme Court ordered to seize
Strictly religious men had been released for decades from military service in Israel. However, this exemption was sustained last year. The Israeli government has not succeeded in taking on a new law to strengthen this special status for the Ultraryethodox. The Supreme Court finally gave a judgment in the summer of 2024 that ultra -orthodox men must be collected for military service.

Many ultra -orthodox Jews regard military service as a threat to their pious lifestyle, also because women and men serve together. Given the long war against the Islamic Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the army had insisted on a drastic lack of fighting soldiers. Moreover, many Israelis find it unfair that ultra -orthodox Jews are excluded from service on the weapon and dangerous combat inserts.