Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s fragile governing coalition has been thrown into fresh turmoil after the ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism (UTJ) party quit the government in protest over military conscription for religious students. The move leaves Netanyahu with a razor-thin majority in the Knesset and adds pressure as ceasefire talks with Hamas gain momentum.
Six UTJ lawmakers submitted resignation letters from their roles in parliamentary committees and government ministries overnight, citing frustration with the government’s failure to enshrine exemptions from military service for ultra-Orthodox seminary students. Their exit is scheduled to take effect within 48 hours, giving Netanyahu a narrow window to resolve the dispute.
The potential departure of Shas, a second ultra-Orthodox party allied with UTJ, could cost the prime minister his parliamentary majority altogether. However, with parliament scheduled to go on summer recess at the end of July, Netanyahu may have until October to find a resolution before the loss of support threatens his government.
At the heart of the crisis is a contentious conscription bill. Ultra-Orthodox men have historically been exempt from mandatory military service, a policy that has become increasingly controversial amid rising casualties from Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza. The Supreme Court struck down the exemption last year, and lawmakers have since failed to pass new legislation satisfying religious parties.
“The failure to protect Torah study is unacceptable,” said a UTJ spokesperson, accusing the government of endangering religious life.
Meanwhile, Netanyahu is also facing opposition from far-right coalition members over ceasefire negotiations taking place in Qatar. The proposed deal would see a 60-day halt in hostilities with Hamas, the release of half of the remaining Israeli hostages, and the opening of talks to end the nine-month-long conflict in Gaza.
Despite resistance from hardline ministers like Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, Netanyahu is expected to have enough support within the cabinet to pass the ceasefire agreement.
“As soon as the right deal is on the table, the prime minister will be able to pass it through,” said Topaz Luk, a senior aide to Netanyahu, speaking to Army Radio on Tuesday.
Public fatigue with the Gaza war has grown significantly. The conflict, triggered by Hamas’s deadly October 7 attack, has led to the deaths of over 58,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials, and claimed the lives of around 450 Israeli soldiers. Nearly the entire population of Gaza has been displaced amid a deepening humanitarian crisis.
The military burden has sparked outrage among many Israelis, who view the continued exemption of ultra-Orthodox students as unjust. Religious leaders, however, argue that compulsory service threatens the fabric of their community.
The coming days will be critical for Netanyahu, who must navigate both coalition instability and the sensitive ceasefire talks, while trying to preserve his grip on power.
