Ultra-Orthodox Quit Netanyahu
Ultra-Orthodox Lawmakers Resign from Netanyahu’s Coalition Over Military Draft Dispute
In a major blow to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s governing coalition, six members of the ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism (UTJ) party submitted their resignations on Monday, citing government breaches related to military draft exemptions for yeshiva students.
The departure follows the earlier resignation of UTJ chairman Yitzhak Goldknopf, leaving all seven of the party’s Knesset members outside the coalition. With their exit, Netanyahu is left with a precarious majority of just 61 seats in the 120-member Knesset.
Degel Hatorah, one of the factions within UTJ, said in a statement that the decision came “after conferring with its head rabbis” and in response to “repeated violations by the government of its commitments to ensure the status of holy yeshiva students who diligently engage in their studies.”
Ultra-Orthodox parties have long demanded that seminary students be exempt from mandatory military service — a key condition for their support when Netanyahu formed his coalition government in late 2022. However, the Israeli Supreme Court ruled last year that such exemptions must end, directing the defense ministry to begin conscripting ultra-Orthodox students.
Tensions have escalated in recent weeks as the government struggled to resolve disagreements over a new military conscription bill. Ultra-Orthodox lawmakers have warned for months that they would leave the coalition if conscription reforms were enforced.
A spokesperson for Goldknopf confirmed that all seven UTJ MKs are stepping down. It remains unclear whether Shas, another ultra-Orthodox party and coalition member, will follow suit.
The issue of military exemptions for religious students has become increasingly contentious amid Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza, as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) face continued demands for manpower. Many secular lawmakers are pushing to eliminate the exemptions, arguing that all Israeli citizens should share the burden of national service equally.
The political crisis could further destabilize Netanyahu’s already fragile government, with the possibility of early elections looming if the coalition collapses.
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