Haredi factions are pushing to dissolve the Knesset over Israel’s military draft dispute, raising the likelihood of early elections [Getty]
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing one of the most serious coalition crises in years after ultra-Orthodox parties signalled they may support dissolving parliament over a long-running dispute on military conscription exemptions for Haredi Jews.
The political turmoil intensified after leading Lithuanian Haredi rabbi Dov Lando reportedly instructed members of the Degel HaTorah faction to begin efforts to dissolve the Knesset “as soon as possible”, saying trust in Netanyahu had broken down.
According to Israeli newspaper Maariv, Lando’s comments reflected an unprecedented collapse in confidence between Netanyahu and his ultra-Orthodox allies, who have traditionally formed one of the strongest pillars of his governing coalition.
The crisis centres on a controversial bill aimed at preserving military exemptions for students in ultra-Orthodox Jewish seminaries, known as yeshivas.
Haredi parties have pushed for legislation guaranteeing the status of religious students since the formation of the current government, while Netanyahu repeatedly delayed a final resolution.
Israeli media reports said Netanyahu had recently informed Haredi parties that there was currently no majority within the coalition to pass the legislation, particularly amid growing public opposition following the war on Gaza and the mobilisation of hundreds of thousands of Israeli reservists.
Maariv said the comments triggered outrage among ultra-Orthodox leaders, with some now openly questioning whether the alliance with Netanyahu can continue.
The newspaper described the crisis as the deepest rupture between Netanyahu and the Haredi parties in years, noting that even within Netanyahu’s own Likud party, there was no longer guaranteed support for a broad exemption law.
The opposition is expected to submit a bill next week to dissolve the Knesset after delaying the move earlier this week.
If the bill passes its preliminary reading, debate will move to parliamentary committees, where negotiations over the timing of elections are expected to begin.
While Israeli elections are currently scheduled for October, Israeli media reports suggest September is increasingly being viewed as a realistic possibility.
