An opposition-backed bill to dissolve the Knesset and trigger early elections was defeated Thursday after ultra-Orthodox lawmakers withdrew their threat to bring down the government over army conscription exemptions.
The Shas party and Degel Hatorah faction, part of the United Torah Judaism (UTJ) alliance, reversed support for the dissolution bill following intense negotiations with Likud’s Yuli Edelstein. The agreement includes a softened draft law imposing enlistment rules and penalties for draft dodgers in the ultra-Orthodox community.
Edelstein, chair of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, insisted that any legislation must punish ultra-Orthodox men who avoid service. Despite the compromise, two Agudat Israel members still voted for dissolution. The bill ultimately failed 61-53 during a vote held at 3 a.m.
Both Shas and UTJ, who want to maintain long-standing exemptions for yeshiva students, had threatened to topple Prime Minister Netanyahu’s coalition over the draft issue. Elections are currently scheduled for October 2026.
After talks with Edelstein, the ultra-Orthodox factions announced a temporary pause on pushing the dissolution bill, asking the opposition to delay it by a week to finalize the legislation.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid, however, pushed the bill forward to prevent future dissolution threats by the Haredi parties. Because the bill was rejected, parliamentary rules prevent another dissolution vote for six months.
Lapid criticized the compromise as a betrayal of Israel’s soldiers. Meanwhile, Agudat Israel said no formal draft law details had been provided yet.
Following the vote, Agudat Israel’s leader Yitzhak Goldknopf is expected to resign from his cabinet post, which could lead to shifts within the UTJ party.
Edelstein declared the process “historic,” promising real change to Israel’s conscription system and security.
