An opposition bill to dissolve the Knesset and call early elections failed Thursday after ultra-Orthodox parties reversed their threats to topple the government over army conscription exemptions.
The Shas party and Degel Hatorah faction, part of United Torah Judaism (UTJ), withdrew support following intense talks with Likud’s Yuli Edelstein, chair of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. The deal involves a softened draft law imposing enlistment requirements and sanctions on draft dodgers within the ultra-Orthodox community.
Despite the compromise, two Agudat Israel lawmakers still backed dissolution. The bill was defeated 61-53 after a late-night vote. If it had passed, it would have required several more approvals.
Shas and UTJ want to preserve traditional exemptions for yeshiva students and had threatened to break the coalition, jeopardizing Prime Minister Netanyahu’s majority. Early elections are currently scheduled for October 2026.
After meeting Edelstein, the ultra-Orthodox factions requested a week’s delay in the dissolution vote to finalize legislation. Opposition leader Yair Lapid pushed forward anyway, aiming to block future dissolution threats by the Haredi parties. Under parliamentary rules, no new dissolution bill can be brought for six months.
Lapid condemned the compromise as a betrayal of Israeli soldiers. Agudat Israel criticized the deal, claiming no formal draft law details had been presented. Reports suggest Agudat Israel’s leader Yitzhak Goldknopf may resign his cabinet post, triggering internal shifts.
Edelstein vowed the committee will continue advancing a “real, effective” conscription law, calling it a historic step toward changing Israeli society and strengthening national security. The proposed legislation would impose phased sanctions on draft evaders and yeshivas failing to meet recruitment targets, signaling a potential shift in Israel’s longstanding exemption policies.
