Ultra-Orthodox conscription dispute pushes Israeli government to brink
Summary
Israel’s government is close to collapse due to disputes over military conscription of ultra-Orthodox Jews. If the parliament votes for early elections next week, Israel will hold a general election within 90 days, likely in August 2025, before the government’s scheduled term ends in October.Key Facts
- Israel’s ruling coalition faces internal conflict over ultra-Orthodox men being exempt from military service.
- Ultra-Orthodox parties, key members of the 2022 far-right coalition, demand continued conscription exemptions for their communities.
- The crisis escalated in July 2025 when ultra-Orthodox parties threatened to leave the government without a bill exempting their constituents.
- One ultra-Orthodox faction, Degel Hatorah, has called for dissolving the government, rejecting previous political alliances.
- Ultra-Orthodox men have been exempt from Israel’s military draft since 1948 based on religious study commitments.
- The Israeli High Court has ruled several times against this exemption, pushing for increased conscription of ultra-Orthodox men.
- Only about 1,200 of roughly 24,000 ultra-Orthodox draft notices have resulted in enlistment.
- Most Israelis (around 85%) support conscripting ultra-Orthodox men or imposing penalties on those who refuse service.
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