Internal divisions among far-right temporarily shield Netanyahu govt.

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Israeli media
12 Jun 2025 07:43
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A bill to dissolve the Israeli Knesset failed its preliminary vote after Haredi parties withheld support, signaling temporary relief for Netanyahu’s coalition.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, second right, applauds Argentina's President Javier Milei addressing lawmakers in the Knesset, in occupied al-Quds, occupied Palestine, on June 11, 2025. (AP)

The Israeli opposition's attempt to trigger early elections by dissolving the Knesset failed in a preliminary vote held early Thursday, after most ultra-Orthodox lawmakers withheld support for the motion. The vote, 61 against and 53 in favor, means that no new proposal to dissolve parliament can be introduced for another six months.

The defeat follows days of political wrangling within Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s fragile ruling coalition. The bill was brought forward by opposition parties, who vowed to suspend all legislative activity to focus on “the overthrow of the government.”

Haredi rift postpones crisis

Despite initial threats to support the motion, ultra-Orthodox parties Shas and Degel HaTorah ultimately fell in line behind Netanyahu, following backroom understandings over a conscription law.

After meetings with Knesset Foreign Affairs and Security Committee Chair Yuli Edelstein, both parties announced that “understandings have been reached” on legislation that would preserve the exemption of yeshiva students from military service, a long-standing point of contention in Israeli politics.

They stated that “a few more days” were needed to finalize the legal language, urging a delay in the vote on disbanding parliament. Although they failed to convince the opposition to postpone, their decision to hold off on backing the bill proved decisive.

Meanwhile, Agudath Israel, another ultra-Orthodox faction, defied its coalition partners. Two of its MKs voted in favor of the bill, with one opposing. The Hasidic party said it had not received any concrete proposals and declared that its lawmakers would back dissolution if no written offer was submitted in time.

Coalition avoids collapse, for now

The bill’s failure means Netanyahu’s coalition remains intact, but its internal cohesion is clearly fraying. Edelstein, a senior Likud lawmaker, claimed victory by announcing that a “historic” breakthrough had been reached on the conscription law with Shas and Degel HaTorah. He said the agreement would expand the occupation military's recruitment base.

“This is historic news and we are on our way to real change in Israeli society and strengthening the State of Israel’s security,” Edelstein declared.

His committee is now expected to begin deliberations ahead of a second and third vote on the law.

Opposition strategy falters

For the opposition, the bill’s failure represents a significant, if temporary, setback. What is described in Israeli politics as centrist and left-wing factions had hoped to exploit the coalition’s internal divisions, particularly over the draft exemption issue, to trigger snap elections.

However, reported US interference in the matter, the instructions of Israeli Rabbis, and the new conscription law agreement extended the life of Netanyahu's criminal coalition.