Key facts
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's governing alliance is strained by disputes over military conscription for ultra-Orthodox Jewish men.
- Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich faces a fight for political survival due to his stance on military draft exemptions.
- Smotrich supported a bill to prevent arrests of ultra-Orthodox Jews for draft avoidance, which was blocked by the Supreme Court.
- Some settlers are angered by Smotrich's position, believing it undermines the army.
- Opinion polls indicate Smotrich's party may struggle to win seats in the upcoming election.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's governing alliance is experiencing strain ahead of an upcoming election, primarily due to disputes over military conscription for ultra-Orthodox Jewish men. The issue has become more acute since the start of the Gaza war, with increased calls to end exemptions from military service for those studying religious texts.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a leader of the far-right Religious Zionism party, is facing a fight for political survival. His support for a recent bill that would prevent the arrest of ultra-Orthodox Jews for avoiding military draft has angered some of his former backers, including West Bank settlers. These critics argue that such exemptions undermine the army's reservist capabilities.
Smotrich defends his position by stating that arrests will not lead to ultra-Orthodox enlistment and that consensus must be reached. However, his stance has led to protests and public criticism, with some accusing him of no longer representing the values of Religious Zionism. Opinion polls suggest his party may struggle to secure enough votes to enter parliament in the October election.
Political analysts note that Smotrich's position is a calculated decision to remain in the coalition and advance settlement expansion goals, despite the cost to his support base. The issue of ultra-Orthodox conscription has been a point of friction within Netanyahu's coalition since a 2024 Supreme Court ruling declared exemptions for religious study unlawful. The bill Smotrich backed was subsequently blocked by the Supreme Court.