• Source:JND
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In a major political setback for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the ultra-Orthodox Shas party announced its exit from the ruling coalition on Wednesday, leaving the government with a minority in the 120-seat Knesset. The Shas party's resignation follows one day after the United Torah Judaism (UTJ) party also resigned from the coalition, faulting Netanyahu for not advancing a controversial law that would exempt ultra-Orthodox men from military duty.

Military service is compulsory for most Jewish Israelis, and the question of exemptions has long divided the country. Those tensions have only deepened amid the ongoing war in Gaza, with demand for soldiers rising sharply.

Netanyahu Coalition Loses 50 Seats

Once the resignations come into effect, Netanyahu's coalition will hold only 50 seats within the 120-seat parliament, essentially making it a minority government. But in a declaration that provided Netanyahu with a lifeline, Shas officials stated that they would not specifically work to bring down the government and might still support it on crucial votes. "In this present situation, it's not possible to sit in the government and to be a partner in it," Shas Cabinet Minister Michael Malkieli stated on Wednesday.

The political turmoil coincides with Israel conducting crucial talks with Hamas on a US-backed ceasefire initiative that would bring the 21-month Gaza war to an end. The reshuffle is not expected to scupper the negotiations, but will place greater pressure on Netanyahu from his hard-line right-wing partners, who are against any truce that leaves Hamas in control. The Israeli PM’s Likud party has not yet issued an official comment on Shas’ departure.

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Early Elections if Coalition Not Rebuilt

The Knesset will be going into summer recess shortly, providing Netanyahu a few months' window with minimal legislative activity to attempt to coax his previous supporters back into line. But if he can't stabilize his coalition when parliament returns in the fall, Israel may be forced into early elections. The following elections are officially scheduled for October 2026.

Ultra-Orthodox men's military draft exemptions have split Israel for decades. Thousands of ultra-Orthodox men are exempt from compulsory service to study religion under a long-standing deal. Supporters say this preserves Jewish tradition and identity. Whereas critics cited by PTI argue the arrangement is unfair to the broader population and places an unequal burden on working Israelis who serve in the military while subsidizing stipends for men who neither serve nor work.

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Netanyahu’s Leadership Under Pressure

Netanyahu, also facing a years-long corruption trial, has relied heavily on his ultra-Orthodox partners to keep himself in office. Their departure undermines his hold and his capacity to ram through contentious legislation or live through a no-confidence vote if the opposition manages to unite. In spite of the unrest, leaders of Shas have indicated they are willing to return if Netanyahu is able to submit a draft law that meets their requirements, a prospect that may extend the impasse for months.