Haredi Parties Demand Permanent Military Exemption Law Before Government Formation

Ahead of the upcoming government formation, Haredi parties in Israel are pushing for a permanent law exempting their community from military conscription. A senior Haredi official stated that this exemption law will be demanded even before the new government is established, emphasizing that the parties have learned to negotiate firmly with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The official believes that if Netanyahu secures 61 Knesset seats alongside the Haredi factions, he will agree to their conscription demands.

The Haredi parties have also expressed willingness to support splitting the role of the government legal adviser and backing legislation aimed at weakening the media. In return, they expect progress on laws related to kosher certification and gender segregation. These demands come after the parties celebrated recent achievements, including the approval of a law granting immunity to deserters.

The debate around media legislation has sparked controversy, with MK Shelly Tal Miron from Yesh Atid accusing Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi of misleading the Haredi parties. Tal Miron warned that the proposed amendments to weaken media oversight would increase platforms on the Idan+ service, lead to more Sabbath violations, and allow pornographic broadcasts. She criticized Karhi for prioritizing his primary election campaign over these concerns.

The Haredi parties’ strategy signals a firm stance on their core issues, aiming to secure significant legislative concessions early in the new government’s tenure.