Netanyahu's government in the crisis: dispute over conscription escalated!

Netanyahu's government in the crisis: dispute over conscription escalated!

The Israeli government coalition under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is exposed to strong pressure due to a dispute over the compulsory conscription for strictly religious men. Current developments indicate that the coalition, which holds a majority of 68 out of 120 seats in parliament, may break in the coming week. Leading rabbis of the united Tora Judaism party have announced their resignation from the government alliance after a compromise search has failed and remains unclear whether an agreement can occur at the last minute. The government could lose its majority if the second strictly religious party, Schas, should also escape with 11 mandates, which would further destabilize the situation. Südkurier reports that several opposition parties have already been resolved Planning parliament.

A central point of dispute is the compulsory conscription for ultra -orthodox Jews, who have been in fact from this since Israel was founded. This exceptional regulation expired last year, and the Supreme Court decided in the summer of 2024 that ultra -orthodox men had to be confiscated for military service. This year, the military is expected to recruit 3,000 ultra -orthodox, which meets great resistance in this population group. Tagesschau notes that many ultra-orthodox Jews see the military service as a threat to their lifestyle, especially through the common service of men and women.

The judgment of the Supreme Court, which says that the previous exceptions for ultra -orthodox men have ended in military duty, could have serious effects on Netanyahu's political future. The Attorney General Gali Baharav-Meara instructed the military to prepare for the convening of 3,000 Torah students. In Jerusalem there were protests from thousands of ultra -orthodox Jews (Haredim) last Sunday, which demonstrated against the decision. Some posters carried slogans like "We won't join the enemy's army". The Süddeutsche Zeitung reports that there were in some cases to deal with the police.

The decision of the Supreme Court was unanimously made by nine judges and emphasizes inequality in military service. There is no legal basis for freeing ultra -orthodox from this service, and men regularly have to do three years of military service, while women are moved in for two years. This regulation meets resistance, especially in those circles where military service is regarded as a threat to the religious way of life, and the Israeli army warns of a lack of fighting soldiers, especially with regard to the ongoing conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

political implications and outlook

The political mood in Israel worsened during the conflict against Hamas. Opinion surveys indicate that Netanjus could gain political opponents in new elections. The next regular choice is scheduled for October 2024. In the Knesset there is a draft law for recruiting ultra -orthodox Jews debate, which provides for a gradual increase in its call -up rate. The daily show mentions that 63,000 men have to compete, while the challenge exists to recruit a population group that rejects the military service.

The discussion about compulsory military service has already triggered conflicts within the government in the past. The dispute could prove to be decisive for the stability of the Netanyahu government and could bring far -reaching consequences for the political landscape of Israel.