The Voice News: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing increasing internal and external pressure over the ongoing war in Gaza, and now his grip on power has weakened further. The ultra-Orthodox political party United Torah Judaism (UTJ), a key coalition partner, has threatened to leave the ruling alliance. According to a report by British news agency Reuters, the party issued a stark ultimatum.
On Wednesday (June 4), UTJ warned that unless the current military conscription law is amended to exempt ultra-Orthodox men engaged in religious studies, they will not only exit the coalition, weakening Netanyahu’s government, but also support the opposition’s efforts to dissolve the Knesset next week.
Tensions have been rising within the coalition over the controversial issue of mandatory military service for ultra-Orthodox men. Meanwhile, dissatisfaction over Netanyahu’s handling of the Gaza war has led the main opposition party Yesh Atid to announce that it will bring a no-confidence vote against the government next week.
Opposition leader and former Prime Minister Yair Lapid declared, “This Knesset is finished. There’s no other path forward.”
Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, requires the support of 61 out of 120 members to be dissolved.
A recent public opinion poll revealed that Netanyahu’s popularity is significantly declining. Many Israelis are reportedly frustrated with the government’s strategy in Gaza and its failure to secure the release of hostages. If elections were held now, there is a strong possibility that Netanyahu could lose power.
A spokesperson for UTJ leader Yitzhak Goldknopf told Reuters that if their demands are not met, the party will support the opposition in dissolving the Knesset.
However, the situation is highly complex. If Netanyahu does not amend the conscription law, he risks losing the ultra-Orthodox support. On the other hand, if he complies with UTJ’s demands, he could face backlash from the secular parties in his coalition. In essence, the Prime Minister is caught in a dilemma — between “crocodiles in the water and tigers on land.”
Netanyahu is Israel’s longest-serving Prime Minister and has weathered numerous crises over the years. Now, with only a few days left before the crucial vote, he and his allies have little time to strike a compromise to maintain control.
A source close to the ruling coalition, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that negotiations are underway among the coalition partners.
Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition holds a slim majority of just eight seats in the Knesset. UTJ controls seven seats, and another ultra-Orthodox party, Shas, holds 11.
So far, Netanyahu has not made any official comment on the unfolding crisis.