‘Government’s last days’: Haredi leaders threaten Netanyahu over draft

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Israeli media
13 May 2025 14:57
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Ultra-Orthodox factions warn Netanyahu that a crackdown on Haredi draft dodgers could bring down his government. As yeshiva student arrests continue, coalition stability is under threat.

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Israeli police officers attack Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men during a protest against army recruitment in Bnei Brak, Sunday, March 2, 2025. (AP)

Senior Israeli ultra-Orthodox leaders have issued a direct warning to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, cautioning that a continued crackdown on Haredi draft evaders could trigger a political rupture within the governing coalition. The remarks follow reports of arrests targeting yeshiva students who have failed to enlist in the military.

According to a report by public broadcaster Kan, leaders from the Haredi parties have expressed growing concern over the arrests, framing the developments as a red line that, if crossed, could have immediate political consequences.

A senior official from one of the Haredi factions told Ynet, “If dozens and hundreds of yeshiva students are indeed arrested, as we are currently seeing, these will be the government’s last days.” The official, who was not named, emphasized that the arrests represent a breach of trust with the ultra-Orthodox community.

The warning carries significant weight. If both Shas and United Torah Judaism (UTJ), the two key Haredi factions in the government, choose to exit the coalition, Netanyahu’s parliamentary majority would collapse, placing his leadership in immediate jeopardy. The Netanyahu coalition's risk is heightened by ongoing tensions surrounding the role of the ultra-Orthodox in national military service.

Coalition majority at risk if Shas and UTJ withdraw

Haredi parties have long advocated for the military exemption of yeshiva students, arguing that religious study is an "essential service to the Jewish state". Attempts to alter or enforce draft laws have previously sparked protests and political standoffs, and the current situation risks reigniting those tensions.

The Haredi draft crisis comes amid growing public debate over equality in military service, with secular and nationalist factions pushing for broader enlistment. Recent enforcement actions, including the arrest of yeshiva students, have inflamed Haredi leadership, who view the moves as a violation of long-standing agreements and a threat to their political influence.

Netanyahu now finds himself balancing between maintaining his fragile coalition and navigating rising national demands for reform in military conscription laws.

With Haredi factions warning of an imminent coalition collapse, the issue of ultra-Orthodox military exemption may once again dominate the political agenda, posing a direct challenge to the longevity of Netanyahu’s government and further fueling divisions within an already fractured entity amid rising concerns of internal conflict.

Netanyahu weighs early elections as Haredi IOF draft crisis deepens

This comes as speculation is mounting within the Israeli occupation government that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may soon opt to dismantle his coalition and call for early elections over the unresolved issue of Haredi military enlistment, with senior ministers indicating that the premier could choose to act preemptively if the ultra-Orthodox parties appear ready to topple the government.

Last November, Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid called on the Israeli government to deny public funding, passports, and travel privileges to ultra-Orthodox Jews (Haredim) who refuse to serve in the military. The Haredi community, which accounts for approximately 13% of "Israel's" population, traditionally avoids conscription, dedicating their lives to Torah study.

According to a senior minister who spoke to Zman Yisrael, The Times of Israel’s Hebrew-language sister outlet, “Netanyahu knows there is no solution to the Haredi enlistment matter. He is bidding for time and will eventually say that ‘on this important matter, I didn’t cave.’ This way, he’ll at least win the election with the support of reservists and civilians who can’t live with the inequality in military conscription.”

The ultra-Orthodox community, making up around 13% of "Israel's" population, has long resisted conscription, arguing it threatens their religious life. While "secular" Israeli settlers support the measure as long overdue, ultra-Orthodox leaders have denounced it as an attack on religious freedom. With religious parties holding sway in the ruling coalition, the proposal is expected to face fierce opposition.