Netanyahu pushes military draft exemption law to save coalition
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is advancing a military draft exemption law to secure his fragile coalition, facing backlash from secular parties and military officials in "Israel".
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Israeli police officers scuffle with ultra-Orthodox Jewish men during a protest against a potential new draft law which could end their exemptions from military service in Jerusalem, Thursday, October 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is advancing legislation to exempt religious students from mandatory military service in an effort to safeguard his fragile ruling coalition, according to reports by Israeli Channel 12.
Netanyahu has reportedly instructed his allies to move forward with passing the military draft exemption law in the coming weeks.
The primary goal is to maintain the cohesion of the current "Israeli" coalition government until at least September 2026, amid growing internal disputes between its political and religious factions.
Read more: 'Israel' to draft 54,000 Ultra-Orthodox as strains deepen
Mounting opposition from military and secular parties
Despite Netanyahu's push, political sources within the occupation entity suggest that widespread opposition from both the military establishment and secular political parties may pressure him to delay or modify the bill.
The proposed law has sparked public criticism, especially from those who argue it deepens inequality in conscription policies and undermines the concept of shared national duty.
The legislation is widely seen as a concession to religious parties within the coalition who have long demanded military exemptions for students in religious seminaries.
Read more: Haredi parties push for Knesset dissolution, call PM 'a burden'
These parties consider military service incompatible with religious study, while opponents see the move as politically motivated and unjust.
Critics warn that the law would further erode the principle of equal burden-sharing in conscription, fueling resentment within what remains of a deeply divided "Israeli" society.
