Haredim Threaten Netanyahu with Support for Dissolving the Knesset

SadaNews - The Israeli Broadcasting Authority reported that the ultra-Orthodox Jews (Haredim) have threatened Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with support for dissolving the Knesset (parliament) and moving towards early elections if he does not accelerate discussions regarding a bill that would exempt them from conscription.

Previously, the Shas party (11 members) and United Torah Judaism (7 members), which represent the Haredim, threatened to bring down the government if the conscription law is not passed, which could lead to early elections, while the current Knesset's term ends in October 2026.

The government coalition, including the Haredim, holds 68 seats in the Knesset out of 120 and needs at least 61 seats to remain in power.

The Haredim continue their protests against conscription following the Supreme Court ruling on June 25, 2024, which mandated their enlistment and prohibited financial assistance to religious institutions whose students refuse military service.

Haredim make up about 13% of Israel's population of 10 million people and refuse military service on the grounds of dedicating their lives to studying the Torah, asserting that integration into secular society poses a threat to their religious identity and the continuity of their community.

The Israeli Broadcasting Authority reported yesterday evening that Haredi Knesset members (18 out of 120) threatened to support the dissolution of the Knesset if the pace of discussions on the conscription law is not accelerated.

They further conveyed in a message to Netanyahu's office that if the pace is not increased, they will not only withhold support for the budget but will also push for elections.

The Authority indicated that the possibility of voting on the Knesset dissolution law was only presented this week, following a parliamentary rule stating that no rejected proposal may be reintroduced for a vote for six months.

It was only after six months since the vote that was rejected on the eve of the attack on Iran.

On June 12, the Knesset rejected by a majority of 61 votes against 53 the opposition's bill to dissolve the Knesset and consequently organize early legislative elections.

On Thursday, the Broadcasting Authority reported that Netanyahu stated during a meeting with the members of the United Torah Judaism party to discuss the exemption from conscription that going to elections would be a mistake.

At that time, Netanyahu said, "The conscription law must be explained to the public, and I believe that there will not be more than two or three opponents from the coalition in the end. We will be required to complete this legislation as soon as possible," according to the same source.

For about two weeks, the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee has been discussing the conscription bill proposed by the committee chairman Boaz Bismuth from Netanyahu's Likud party.

The bill stipulates the possibility of granting annual deferments from conscription to full-time students of religious institutes who do not engage in any other profession, and it removed numerous clauses from a previous version that aimed to ensure that those enrolled in religious studies are actually committed to studying, according to the Times of Israel.

According to the newspaper, several members of the ruling coalition, along with the opposition, criticized the bill, stating that it contains loopholes and ineffective penalties that do not encourage enlistment.

Over the decades, the Haredim have managed to avoid conscription upon reaching the age of 18 by obtaining repeated deferments under the pretext of studying in religious institutes until they reach the current exemption age of 26.