Israel's United Torah Judaism (UTJ) party has withdrawn from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's ruling coalition, citing the government's failure to enact a bill exempting ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students from mandatory military service. This defection reduces Netanyahu's Knesset majority to a precarious 61 out of 120 seats, creating significant political instability. The long-standing conscription exemption, a contentious issue exacerbated by a recent Supreme Court ruling and the ongoing Gaza conflict, was a key condition for UTJ's coalition participation, and its removal could trigger further political realignments.
The withdrawal of the United Torah Judaism (UTJ) party has critically weakened Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's ruling coalition, reducing its majority to a precarious 61 out of 120 seats in the Knesset. This defection stems directly from the government's failure to pass a contentious military conscription bill that would exempt ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students, a key promise made to the UTJ. The political crisis is exacerbated by two factors: a Supreme Court ruling ordering an end to these long-standing exemptions and the ongoing war in Gaza, which has intensified public debate over the issue. The resulting razor-thin majority creates significant political instability and legislative gridlock, with the government's survival potentially dependent on the actions of the other ultra-Orthodox party, Shas, whose intentions remain unclear. This situation introduces a high degree of uncertainty for policy continuity and governance in Israel.
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