Ultra-Orthodox Party Quits Israeli Coalition, Threatening Government 

A key Israeli ultra-Orthodox party announced it would leave the governing coalition this week, dealing a major blow to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and leaving the government with a thin majority in parliament amid the ongoing conflicts in the Gaza Strip and elsewhere in the region, Bloomberg reported. 

The United Torah Judaism (UTJ) party said late Monday it would exit the right-wing coalition in protest of a bill seeking to remove long-standing exemptions for ultra-Orthodox Jews from military service on religious grounds. 

Israel’s military draft requires all able-bodied members of the Jewish majority to serve in the army for at least two years after turning 18. 

However, ultra-Orthodox Jewish men have historically avoided conscription by continuing to study at yeshivas, religious institutions focused on traditional Jewish texts, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 

The bill became a point of contention within Netanyahu’s cabinet and gained national attention, particularly after the conflict with Hamas began in October 2023. 

The UTJ’s exit is set to take effect on Wednesday. If it goes forward, it would leave Netanyahu’s coalition with only 61 out of the 120 seats in parliament – making him vulnerable to potential no-confidence motions. 

Analysts said the Israeli prime minister could still bring the party back into the government. 

At the same time, the party’s departure could influence another ultra-Orthodox coalition partner, Shas, to quit and leave the government without a legislative majority, Reuters noted. 

Such a scenario would likely lead to early elections, with some analysts suggesting that any new vote would take place early next year. 

Israel has held five elections since 2019, the most recent in November 2022. 

The exit could also complicate Netanyahu’s efforts to finalize a ceasefire agreement with Hamas that would pause hostilities in Gaza for two months. This would allow the release of roughly half of the remaining 50 hostages, and pave the way for end-of-war negotiations. 

But far-right members of the coalition have signaled they would oppose any deal they view as too lenient. 

Amid the political turmoil, Netanyahu this week dismissed accusations that he was responsible for Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack in southern Israel.  

The attack saw the Iran-backed group and its allies kill around 1,200 people and take more than 250 hostages, the Times of Israel reported. 

The conservative leader reiterated that the country’s security establishment – not political leaders – failed to prevent the attack, adding that defense officials misled him and downplayed the risk. 

He also rejected accusations that he has prolonged the conflict for his political benefit, as he is often accused of doing. 

However, official reports from Israeli security agencies have indicated that political leaders received warnings about a potential Hamas strike well ahead of the Oct. 7 attack.