Title: Coalition Crisis Threatens Netanyahu’s Grip on Power Over Military Service Dispute
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing a significant political challenge as a disagreement within his coalition over the exemption of ultra-Orthodox Jews from military service threatens to collapse the government.
The coalition, made up of secular and ultra-Orthodox lawmakers, is divided on whether young ultra-Orthodox men should continue to be exempt from military service in favor of studying at religious seminaries. This disagreement has put the coalition at risk of collapsing, with potential consequences for Netanyahu’s leadership.
The issue has come to a head as the current exemption deadline approaches on April 1. The Supreme Court has instructed the government to suspend special educational subsidies for seminary students who fail to answer their military call-ups after the deadline passes.
The standoff reflects a long-standing battle over the role of religion in the Jewish state, with growing resentment among secular Israelis towards the ultra-Orthodox minority. The increasing number of soldiers questioning the exemption for the ultra-Orthodox has added fuel to the fire.
While the Haredi leadership remains opposed to mandatory military service, the government is under pressure to find a compromise that satisfies both religious and secular members of the coalition. Failure to do so could lead to new elections, with polling suggesting Netanyahu may not win.
The threat of a financial shortfall for Haredi schools has added urgency to the negotiations, with up to 60,000 student subsidies at risk. Despite the potential consequences, the Haredi leadership may choose to stay in the coalition to maintain influence and seek solutions to their funding shortfall.
The outcome of the military service dispute could have far-reaching implications for Netanyahu’s grip on power and the future of the coalition government.
