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The Hasidic Agudat Yisrael faction of the ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism party intends to support a bill to dissolve the Israeli Knesset, potentially toppling Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, Israeli media outlet Channel 12 reported Thursday.
The move follows calls by the party’s spiritual leadership to withdraw from the coalition over the government’s failure to pass legislation exempting religious students from mandatory military service.
While Netanyahu said progress was made in the discussions, Haredi parties, led by United Torah Judaism, announced they would support opposition proposals to dissolve parliament next week.
The "Council of Sages," formed by prominent rabbis from the Agudat Yisrael Haredi party, decided to support the opposition's proposal, a step that seriously threatens Netanyahu's government.
On Wednesday, opposition parties including Yesh Atid, led by Yair Lapid, and Yisrael Beiteinu, headed by former Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman, announced plans to submit draft legislation next week to dissolve the Knesset.
Channel 12 reported that Agudat Yisrael, which together with Degel HaTorah forms the United Torah Judaism bloc holding seven seats in the 120-member Knesset, has declared that it “will support the bill the opposition plans to submit next week.” Agudat Yisrael holds three of the seven seats.
The channel said the announcement “raises the likelihood of a potential fracture within the ruling coalition, especially if other Haredi parties follow suit — potentially bringing early elections in Israel closer.”
Asher Medina from coalition partner Shas Party wrote in a local newspaper article addressing Netanyahu: "The key is in your hand, either you solve it or the government collapses."
Opposition parties including Yair Lapid's "There is a Future" and Avigdor Lieberman's "Israel Our Home" announced they would present their proposals to dissolve parliament next week.
Haredi parties are demanding Netanyahu's government introduce new legislation to overturn this decision.
The crisis stems from legislation allowing religious Jews to be exempt from mandatory military service, which has not yet passed through parliament.
While Israeli law requires everyone over 18 to perform mandatory military service, exempting Haredis from military service has been debated in the country for years.
Israel's military needs have increased due to rising aggression in the region since October 7, 2023, particularly in Gaza Strip.
The army reportedly needs 12,000 soldiers, with 7,000 to serve in combat zones.
The Israeli Supreme Court ruled on June 25, 2024, that there was no legal basis for exempting Haredi men from mandatory military service and that those fit for service should be recruited.
Haredis, who comprise approximately 13 percent of the population, oppose mandatory military service, stating they dedicate their lives to Torah studies.
Netanyahu's Haredi coalition partners are pressuring the Prime Minister to pass military legislation that would exempt Haredis from military service.
Haredi parties have been boycotting parliament votes for a month, preventing the government from making decisions and frequently threatening Netanyahu with toppling the government.
Meanwhile, the Israeli army issued evacuation orders to Palestinians in northern Gaza Strip on the first day of Eid al-Adha, threatening attacks in the region.
Israeli Army Spokesman Avichay Adraee published a map on X showing Gaza Strip divided into numbered small blocks with "forbidden zones" marked in red.
Adraee instructed Gaza Strip residents living in blocks numbered 608, 609, 615, 616 to immediately migrate west of their current location.
He indicated this was the final warning before attacks, pointing to upcoming clashes in the region.
The Israeli army warned Gaza Strip residents not to approach Israeli-US guided aid distribution areas in the evenings, where dozens of Palestinians have been killed by Israeli army fire.
The army stated the areas are open between 06:00 and 18:00, requiring compliance with officials' instructions for entry and exit.
The statement noted the area becomes a "closed military zone" during other hours, warning that entry "poses a serious risk to your life" between 18:00 and 06:00.
Israeli attacks on Gaza Strip during the first day of Eid al-Adha killed 19 Palestinians.
Israeli warplanes conducted intensive airstrikes on various areas of Khan Younis city while the city was subjected to heavy artillery fire.
Four Palestinians were killed and dozens wounded when Israeli soldiers opened fire near the US company's "aid distribution" center west of Rafah. Nine Palestinians were killed and many wounded when Israel targeted civilian homes in Jabalia.
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