Netanyahu Govt Faces Collapse, Opposition Pushes to Dissolve Parliament/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition faces collapse after the opposition submitted a bill to dissolve parliament. His ultra-Orthodox allies, upset over stalled military draft exemptions, may vote to support it. The vote follows growing tensions during Israel’s longest ongoing war in Gaza.
Netanyahu’s Coalition Crisis Quick Looks
- Israeli opposition submitted a bill to dissolve parliament
- Netanyahu’s ultra-Orthodox allies threaten to support the motion
- Issue stems from lack of progress on military draft exemptions
- Ultra-Orthodox leaders issued religious decree against conscription
- Netanyahu’s coalition could collapse, forcing early elections
- If vote fails, opposition cannot reintroduce bill for six months
- Israel is still at war with Hamas in Gaza since Oct. 2023
- More than 866 Israeli soldiers have died since war began
- Haredi community, 13% of population, traditionally avoids army service
- Parliament is clogged with bills as coalition seeks to delay vote
Deep Look: Netanyahu’s Government Teeters as Parliament Dissolution Vote Looms
JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu‘s already-fragile coalition may be on the verge of collapse as internal tensions over ultra-Orthodox military exemptions ignite a parliamentary crisis. On Wednesday, the opposition submitted a bill to dissolve the Knesset, raising the possibility of snap elections during wartime.
The potential fall of the government comes amid deepening fractures between Netanyahu and his ultra-Orthodox allies, who have threatened to back the dissolution over what they see as a betrayal on one of their most important demands: maintaining their community’s long-standing exemption from mandatory military service.
Ultra-Orthodox Frustration Sparks Crisis
The ultra-Orthodox, also known as Haredim — roughly 13% of Israeli society — have long resisted mandatory service in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), citing threats to their traditional religious way of life. On Tuesday, senior Haredi rabbis issued a religious ruling forbidding enlistment, effectively tying the hands of ultra-Orthodox politicians from negotiating any draft compromise.
This showdown comes as Israel wages the longest war in its history, now entering its 20th month against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The military is overstretched, and public resentment toward the ultra-Orthodox for not contributing to the defense effort is at an all-time high.
“The soldiers marching in Gaza can no longer bear the burden alone,” said one Israeli analyst. “The patience of the public is wearing thin.”
Dissolution Vote Strategy and Timing
Wednesday’s legislative session in the Knesset is crammed with bills submitted by Netanyahu’s coalition in an effort to stall debate on the dissolution proposal. But time may be running out. The dissolution vote is expected late Wednesday night, though it could be withdrawn if opposition leaders sense insufficient support.
If passed, the bill would still need to clear three more readings before Parliament is officially dissolved — a process that could take days or weeks. However, failure to pass would prevent the opposition from bringing the bill again for six months, barring coalition support.
Adding to the political drama, Argentine President Javier Milei is also scheduled to address the Knesset on Wednesday, creating a surreal backdrop of ceremonial diplomacy against political implosion.
Draft Debate Dividing a Nation
Military service has long been a national rite of passage in Israel, with mandatory enlistment for most Jewish citizens. However, ultra-Orthodox men enrolled in full-time religious studies have traditionally been exempt.
With the war’s strain on national resources and manpower, many Israelis are now calling for those exemptions to end. The issue has become a lightning rod, symbolizing broader cultural tensions between secular Israelis and religious hardliners.
“To threaten the collapse of a government during wartime over draft exemptions is unconscionable,” one reservist told Israeli media.
Opposition leaders are capitalizing on this rift, aiming to topple Netanyahu’s government, which has already suffered significant reputational damage since Hamas’ devastating October 7, 2023 attack that killed over 1,200 Israelis and launched the current war.
War Casualties and Political Fallout
Since the beginning of the war, at least 866 Israeli soldiers have been killed. The prolonged conflict has added immense political pressure on Netanyahu, already criticized for security failures, humanitarian conditions in Gaza, and lack of a long-term strategy.
Netanyahu’s handling of the war, along with his perceived pandering to extremist religious factions, has alienated moderate voters and stoked growing protests in major cities. A fresh election could spell disaster for him unless he can broker a last-minute compromise on the draft law.
“This isn’t just a political disagreement,” said a Knesset source. “It’s an existential fight about what kind of society Israel wants to be.”
What Comes Next?
Even if Wednesday’s vote fails, Netanyahu’s troubles are far from over. His government, once hailed for unifying Israel’s right-wing and religious parties, is increasingly held hostage by internal contradictions — particularly over military service, governance during war, and Israel’s future in Gaza.
Should the bill pass, Israel would likely head to elections within months, with the future of military policy, wartime leadership, and religious influence at stake.
Until then, all eyes are on the Knesset chamber — and Netanyahu’s ability to hold the line.
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