05/18/2026
🔴Netanyahu's government in turmoil over ultra-Orthodox military conscription🔴
TEL AVIV, Israel — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government is on the verge of collapse, after a major religious party in the government threatened to dissolve parliament (Knesset) next week over the issue of military conscription.
What is the root of the crisis?
* Netanyahu has told party leaders that he cannot introduce legislation exempting ultra-Orthodox Jews from military service before the election. He has suggested that they consider it after the election.
* The Degel HaTorah party, angered by this, said, "We have no confidence in Netanyahu now, we should dissolve parliament immediately."
Why is military service such an issue?
* Although military service is mandatory for most Israelis, ultra-Orthodox youth who receive religious education have long been exempted from it.
* However, the Gaza war has left the army in need of more men. Therefore, there is strong political pressure within the country to make military service mandatory for these men as well.
* In 2024, the Israeli Supreme Court also ordered the conscription of these men to begin. But the religious parties in Netanyahu’s government are strongly opposed to it.
What happens next?
* There is a vote next week on dissolving parliament. If it passes, new elections will be held within three months, which means in early September.
* Current opinion polls show former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and opposition leader Yair Lapid in the lead.
* However, Netanyahu will serve as acting prime minister until a new government is formed.
This is the biggest challenge facing Netanyahu's government. Netanyahu is now caught between strengthening the army for the sake of the country's security and fulfilling the demands of religious parties to protect his government.
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