Ultra-Orthodox Party Won't Join Government Without Conscription Law

The ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism party will not join a future Israeli government unless a conscription law for yeshiva students is passed before the government is formed. This was stated by party leader Yitzhak Goldknopf. The party is demanding that the law, which exempts full-time Torah scholars from mandatory military service, be legislated as a prerequisite for joining any coalition. This stance sets a significant hurdle for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is tasked with forming a government following the recent elections. The current conscription law is set to expire, and its renewal or replacement has been a contentious issue, particularly concerning the ultra-Orthodox community's exemption from military service, which is mandatory for other Jewish Israelis. The party's demand highlights the ongoing tension between religious and secular demands within Israeli society and politics.