Knesset Advances Haredi Draft Bill for Wednesday as Dissolution Vote Threatens Netanyahu Coalition
Updated
Updated · The Jerusalem Post · May 17
Knesset Advances Haredi Draft Bill for Wednesday as Dissolution Vote Threatens Netanyahu Coalition
6 articles · Updated · The Jerusalem Post · May 17
Wednesday has been set for both advancing the ultra-Orthodox draft bill and holding a first vote on dissolving the Knesset, putting Netanyahu’s coalition crisis on a collision course.
Netanyahu’s office spent the weekend counting coalition support and pressing lawmakers to back the conscription bill, an effort critics inside the coalition said was meant to appease haredi parties and secure a majority.
Degel HaTorah, part of United Torah Judaism, said it still backs dissolving the Knesset despite the bill’s return, after Rabbi Dov Lando told lawmakers he no longer trusts Netanyahu.
The fight centers on a draft measure critics say would largely preserve exemptions while the IDF warns of acute manpower shortages after more than 2 years of war.
If dissolution advances, elections could come earlier than the current October 27 date, though Israeli law requires at least 90 days between final approval and a vote.
With its army facing a manpower crisis, will a bill exempting thousands from service save or sink Netanyahu's government?
Does Israel’s bitter draft debate signal a permanent fracture between its secular and religious communities?
Israel’s 2026 Haredi Draft Exemption Crisis: Political Turmoil, Supreme Court Rulings, and the Struggle Over Military Service Equality
Overview
Israel faces a major political crisis as the ultra-Orthodox draft exemption bill threatens to trigger early elections. Ultra-Orthodox parties, whose core demand is exemption from military service, are under growing pressure due to the Gaza war and the need for more soldiers. Prime Minister Netanyahu recently told the Haredim his coalition lacks enough support to pass the bill, suggesting a delay until after the 2026 elections and proposing to continue work in the next Knesset. However, the Haredi parties rejected these ideas, pushing for immediate action, which highlights deep divisions and the risk of government collapse.