Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing government overcame a major challenge on Thursday, defeating an opposition-led attempt to dissolve the Knesset and trigger early elections.
The move, seen as a direct response to growing dissent over military service exemptions for ultra-Orthodox Jews, was narrowly defeated as 61 lawmakers voted against the bill, while 53 supported it.
The failed attempt to dissolve parliament marks a temporary reprieve for Netanyahu’s embattled administration. The opposition, made up largely of centrist and left-leaning factions, had hoped to capitalize on unrest within the ruling coalition — particularly from ultra-Orthodox parties unhappy with ongoing debates surrounding mandatory military service for their members.
The opposition’s hope was that the ultra-Orthodox factions, traditionally loyal to Netanyahu, would defect in protest over pressure to end military exemptions for their community.
Although some ultra-Orthodox lawmakers did vote in favor of the bill, the majority ultimately sided with the government, preserving the fragile alliance that holds the ruling coalition together. This outcome means the opposition must now wait another six months before tabling another dissolution motion.
In the hours leading up to the vote, Yuli Edelstein of Netanyahu’s Likud party announced that, following lengthy internal discussions, coalition parties had reached an agreement on the basic framework of a new conscription bill.
Although he did not offer specifics, Edelstein emphasized the importance of expanding the Israeli military’s recruitment pool and hailed the development as a significant step toward reform.
“This is historic news, and we are on the path to real reform in Israeli society and strengthening the security of the State of Israel,” Edelstein stated on the social media platform X. Edelstein, who chairs the Knesset’s foreign affairs and defense committee, had previously introduced legislation aimed at increasing ultra-Orthodox conscription and imposing stricter penalties for evasion.
Despite the momentary victory for Netanyahu’s coalition, opposition leader Yair Lapid argued that the government’s foundations were already crumbling.
According to Lapid, the vote demonstrated that internal cracks within the coalition are deepening and suggested that the ultra-Orthodox partners had chosen to prioritize maintaining exemptions over maintaining their positions in government.
“When coalitions begin to fall apart, they fall apart. It started and this is what it looks like when a government begins to collapse,” Lapid said. He further accused the government of enabling the systemic avoidance of military duty by “tens of thousands of healthy young people” in the ultra-Orthodox community.
In response, Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi insisted that the coalition remained united and was “moving forward” with greater strength. On Wednesday, in preparation for Thursday’s vote, opposition factions had agreed unanimously to bring the motion forward and suspend all legislative activities in order to focus entirely on the bid to unseat the government.
Netanyahu’s administration is considered one of the most hardline in Israel’s history, consisting of his Likud party, far-right allies, and ultra-Orthodox parties Shas and United Torah Judaism (UTJ).
The controversial issue of military exemptions has long been a fault line in Israeli politics, dating back to the nation’s founding when ultra-Orthodox communities were granted exceptions due to their small population and dedication to full-time religious study.
The subject has become increasingly divisive, particularly as the ongoing war in Gaza — now stretching into its 20th month — has created a pressing demand for more military personnel.
Netanyahu faces pressure from secular and nationalist segments of his base to incorporate more ultra-Orthodox men into the military. However, his ultra-Orthodox allies insist on legal protections that would guarantee permanent exemptions for their constituents.
As lawmakers debated into the early hours of Thursday, reports emerged of last-minute negotiations between coalition representatives and ultra-Orthodox leaders.
Netanyahu’s team attempted to buy time by flooding the legislative schedule with other bills to delay the vote. Meanwhile, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich warned that forcing elections during wartime would pose a severe threat to national security.
“History will not forgive anyone who drags the state of Israel into elections during a war,” Smotrich told lawmakers, emphasizing the need for ultra-Orthodox inclusion in national defense for both security and societal balance.
Though Netanyahu’s coalition has survived for now, its future remains precarious. Should the ultra-Orthodox parties withdraw over conscription disagreements, the government would lose its parliamentary majority, potentially setting the stage for new elections and a reshuffling of Israel’s political landscape.
What you should know
Netanyahu’s government narrowly survived a vote to dissolve parliament, as ultra-Orthodox coalition partners largely stood by him despite internal tensions over military service exemptions.
The opposition, seeking early elections amid discontent over the Gaza war and societal inequality, must now wait six months to try again. The clash reflects deep divisions in Israeli society over national service and religious privilege.
