Shas and United Torah Judaism Say They Will Not Back Coalition Votes Today

Shas and United Torah Judaism told the coalition whip on Monday that they will not support coalition legislation in the Knesset plenum, after the coalition refused to put the daycare subsidies bill, known as the "meonot law," on the agenda. As a result, the coalition withdrew all bills for the day, and the plenum agenda will now consist only of no-confidence votes submitted by the opposition.

In a joint statement, the two ultra-Orthodox parties said, "We have now informed the coalition whip that because the daycare bill was not put on the agenda, we will not vote today in favor of coalition legislation in the Knesset plenum." United Torah Judaism faction chair MK Uri Maklev also delivered a sharp message in a faction meeting, saying, "Because the daycare bill was not put on the agenda, we will not allow today or tomorrow the advancement of any and all government agenda items."

The crisis centers on legislation meant to continue state subsidies for daycare centers for families of yeshiva students, after the attorney general, with backing from the High Court, moved to cancel the subsidies in some cases. The bill has sparked intense dispute not only from the opposition but also within the coalition, especially among Likud and Religious Zionism, because of its link to the broader issue of ultra-Orthodox draft exemptions.

In recent weeks, the ultra-Orthodox parties have warned that if the bill does not advance, they may disrupt Knesset work. The standoff could also affect other items on the agenda, including a bill to split the attorney general’s role, a bill to establish a national commission of inquiry, and additional governance-related legislation.