Israel ‘ultra-Orthodox’ party threatens Netanyahu’s Government over draft law

Israel's ultra-Orthodox Shas party threatens to bring down Netanyahu's government over military service dispute, risking early elections.

Israel’s ultra-Orthodox Shas party on Monday (June 9, 2025) threatened to bring down Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government by backing a motion for early elections amid a row over military service.

Mr. Netanyahu’s coalition, one of the most right-wing in Israel’s history, is at risk of collapsing over a bill that could reverse the long-standing exemption from the draft for ultra-Orthodox Jews.

The exemption is facing growing pushback as Israel wages war on Palestinian militants Hamas in Gaza.

Mr. Netanyahu is under pressure from within his Likud party to draft more ultra-Orthodox men and impose penalties on draft dodgers — a red line for Shas.

The party is demanding legislation to permanently exempt its followers from military service and gave Mr. Netanyahu two days to find a solution.

“We don’t want to bring down a right-wing government, but we’ve reached our limit,” Shas spokesperson Asher Medina told public radio.

“If there’s no last-minute solution (on conscription), we’ll vote to dissolve the Knesset,” he said, referring to the Israeli Parliament.