Ultra-Orthodox Parties Demand Conscription Law Before Coalition Talks
Translated & summarized from Maariv by baba
Ultra-Orthodox parties are refusing to join a coalition government without a new conscription law, even if the right-wing bloc wins a majority. They insist the law must pass before any coalition talks begin, rejecting past promises. Former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot has ruled out joining a government led by Benjamin Netanyahu under any circumstances. The political stalemate over the conscription law suggests that the upcoming elections may not lead to a stable government, potentially resulting in further elections.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Ultra-Orthodox parties demand a passed conscription law before joining any coalition government.
- They will not enter coalition talks until the conscription law is approved in three readings.
- Former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot refuses to serve under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
- Political sources believe the conscription law's passage is a major obstacle to forming a government.
- The current deadlock may lead to further elections in Israel.
Ultra-Orthodox parties are signaling they will not join a coalition government without a conscription law being passed, even if the right-wing bloc secures a majority of 61 Knesset seats. Senior figures in United Torah Judaism stated that they are not aligned with any bloc and will not enter coalition negotiations until a conscription law is approved in three readings. They also indicated a decision not to recommend a candidate for prime minister, though Shas may find it difficult to avoid recommending Benjamin Netanyahu. United Torah Judaism's stance is less clear, but pressure is expected for its politicians and rabbis to recommend Netanyahu.
These parties emphasize they will not accept mere promises for a conscription law before the government is sworn in, citing past experiences. They are willing to consider not supporting no-confidence votes in the Knesset's first session but insist that coalition talks can only begin after the conscription law passes. They suggest Netanyahu could form a minority government with far-right parties like Otzma Yehudit and National Union, and only then would they consider joining.
The conscription law itself presents a significant hurdle, as the new Knesset would need to restart the legislative process. Sources on the right suggest potential opposition from within the Likud and other right-wing parties, making it difficult to bridge the gap between the ultra-Orthodox demands and what other parties are willing to offer. Netanyahu reportedly claims Likud polls indicate close to 60 seats for the right-wing bloc, with a goal of 57-58 to prevent a "change bloc" government.
Meanwhile, former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot has rejected any possibility of joining a Netanyahu government, even in the event of a security escalation. He stated in an interview that he would not serve under Netanyahu under any circumstances, citing eight months in the security cabinet that convinced him Netanyahu is unfit to be prime minister. Political sources believe Eisenkot might only agree to support such a government from the outside.
The political deadlock over the conscription law, coupled with the ultra-Orthodox parties' firm stance, leads to speculation that the upcoming elections may not resolve the impasse, potentially dragging Israel into another round of elections.
Mentioned
