Netanyahu Coalition Faces Collapse Over Haredi Draft Exemption Dispute

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition government in Israel faces a severe crisis over the stalled legislation regarding the exemption of Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) yeshiva students from military service. The ultra-Orthodox parties United Torah Judaism and Shas have threatened to dissolve the Knesset and push for early elections if their demands for broad exemptions are not met, following failed negotiations with Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee chairman Yuli Edelstein, who insists on strict conscription laws including personal sanctions for draft evaders. This standoff has intensified since the Hamas attack in October 2023 and the ongoing war, which have increased pressure on the Israel Defense Forces to draft more soldiers, including from the Haredi community. Netanyahu has held urgent meetings to seek compromise, including discussions about possibly replacing Edelstein to ease tensions, but chances of bridging the gap between the ultra-Orthodox demands and the coalition’s position remain low. The Haredi factions, led by influential rabbis, wield significant political power and have indicated willingness to vote against the government, which could trigger its collapse. The crisis underscores the deep divisions within the coalition and the broader challenge of balancing military needs with religious exemptions amid Israel's current security situation.