Jerusalem: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing political turmoil after the United Torah Judaism (UTJ) party quit the ruling coalition over a dispute on military conscription, leaving his government with a narrow and uncertain parliamentary majority.
Six UTJ lawmakers submitted resignation letters from parliamentary committees and ministerial roles overnight, protesting the failure to secure a law guaranteeing continued military service exemptions for ultra-Orthodox students. Their walkout, which takes effect after 48 hours, has intensified the crisis that has been simmering within Netanyahu’s coalition for months.
Another key ultra-Orthodox party, Shas, is reportedly considering a similar move. If it follows through, Netanyahu’s coalition would lose its parliamentary majority altogether.
Despite the political shake-up, Netanyahu could still gather enough cabinet support to push through a possible ceasefire deal with Hamas. Talks underway in Qatar aim to broker a 60-day truce to facilitate the release of half of the hostages and allow humanitarian aid into Gaza. The deal could also lay the groundwork for broader negotiations to end the war.
Netanyahu is facing pushback from far-right coalition allies, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who oppose any halt to the Gaza war. However, Netanyahu is still expected to have the necessary votes within the cabinet to approve a ceasefire.
“As soon as the right deal is on the table, the prime minister will be able to pass it through,” said Topaz Luk, a close aide to Netanyahu, in Army Radio on Tuesday.
The political instability comes as public frustration mounts over the Gaza war, which has dragged on for more than 21 months since the Hamas-led attack on Israel on 7 October 2023. That attack left 1,200 Israelis dead and 251 taken hostage, marking Israel’s deadliest day.
Israel’s military response has devastated Gaza, with more than 58,000 Palestinians killed, according to local health officials. The war has displaced nearly the entire population, caused a severe humanitarian crisis, and resulted in the deaths of around 450 Israeli soldiers.
At the heart of Netanyahu’s coalition crisis is the highly contentious issue of military service exemptions. Ultra-Orthodox seminary students have traditionally been allowed to study religious texts full-time instead of joining the army, but many Israelis see this as an unfair system that places the burden of defense on the rest of the population.
Ultra-Orthodox leaders argue that mandatory conscription would pull young men away from religious life. Last year, Israel’s Supreme Court ordered an end to the exemption, prompting parliament to draft a new conscription bill. However, the legislation has so far failed to meet UTJ's demands, pushing the party to take drastic action.
With parliament set to begin its summer recess at the end of July, Netanyahu may have a temporary reprieve to find a political solution. But the mounting tensions within his fragile coalition and growing public discontent continue to pose serious challenges to his leadership.