Netanyahu's plan to draft Haredim protested: Will the Israeli government fall?

12PUNTO FOREIGN NEWS

In Israel, the opposition is calling on ministers to leave the government if the new military service law is put to a vote, while leaders of parties in the ruling coalition are reportedly warning Netanyahu that his coalition will collapse before the law is approved.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu backtracked on some parts of the Haredi conscription law he proposed on Monday. The Israeli government released a modified version of the bill following backlash from within the ruling coalition.

The new bill provides for changing annual recruitment targets to ensure a 'significant and gradual increase' in the conscription of students studying in 'yeshivas', which are special religious schools for Haredim, and graduates of ultra-Orthodox educational institutions.

According to a report by Israel's Channel 12, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is making plans to establish a new ultra-Orthodox battalion, as well as a civilian technology service line, and to prepare for the conscription of ultra-Orthodox men who were previously exempt from military service.

WHAT ARE THE MAIN POINTS OF THE BILL?

The initial draft of the law proposed by Netanyahu did not set a quota for the conscription of ultra-Orthodox men.

Instead, the proposal included setting the age of military exemption for Haredim at 35 and subjecting Haredi men who do not enlist to criminal sanctions.

The plan also included proposals to establish special ultra-Orthodox battalions within the IDF and to add Haredi positions to the country's emergency services and government offices.

WHY DO THE HAREDI NOT SERVE IN THE MILITARY?

The Haredim, who make up the majority of the 'native' Jewish population in Israel, are a group known for their adherence to strict religious principles. Haredim have refused to serve in the military to date on the grounds that they would be unable to fulfill their religious duties.

Israeli law allowed Haredi students who studied religious subjects until the age of 26 to be exempt from military service.

The Netanyahu government, which has been seeking to increase the number of soldiers since the start of the war in Gaza, had prepared a new bill for the conscription of Haredim. Before the bill was even put to a vote, widespread protests erupted in the country, causing parties in the ruling coalition to react against Netanyahu.

COULD NETANYAHU'S RULE COME TO AN END?

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who stated that he could not support any law passed without a broad consensus from all coalition parties, including the Gantz party, also rejected Netanyahu's initial plan on Sunday, saying that a flexible agreement on the matter was 'essential for existence and success' and called for a compromise.

Gallant is portrayed by international media as a 'potential' rival to Netanyahu. The Israeli Defense Minister traveled to the US in recent weeks for talks, a development Netanyahu learned about from the press.

Israel's Haaretz newspaper had claimed that Netanyahu was prolonging the war in Gaza to maintain his power. In its report on the new bill, Haaretz wrote that the ruling coalition could fall apart if a consensus is not reached on the new bill, and that the Netanyahu government could collapse.

News Source: 12punto