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The ultra-Orthodox Degel ha-Torah party, a key ally of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's ruling coalition, has officially announced that it will not support the draft law on military conscription in the form proposed by the coalition. The decision, reported by Israeli media, risks leading to the dissolution of the Knesset (Israeli parliament) and the holding of early elections in the first half of September 2026, several weeks ahead of the scheduled deadline of October 27.
According to sources cited by Israeli public broadcaster KAN and other media outlets such as the Times of Israel and Haaretz, Degel ha-Torah has expressed its loss of confidence in Netanyahu after failing to secure passage of a law that would grant exemptions from military service to ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) yeshiva students. The faction’s spiritual leader, Rabbi Dov Lando, declared that “we no longer have confidence in Netanyahu” and ordered party members to work for the dissolution of the Knesset as soon as possible.
The issue of Haredi conscription is one of the most sensitive and polarizing topics in Israeli politics. The ultra-Orthodox community, which makes up about 13 percent of the population, has enjoyed exemptions from mandatory military service for decades to focus on religious studies. However, after a Supreme Court ruling in 2024-2025 ordering conscription, pressure has increased significantly.
The Netanyahu government has long promised a law that would protect the status quo for Haredim, but the bill has faced internal resistance within the coalition (especially from Likud) and from the opposition. Netanyahu is said to have suggested postponing its passage until after the election, which has angered ultra-Orthodox allies. Degel ha-Torah, part of United Torah Judaism (UTJ), has warned that it will block the legislation in the Knesset to speed up the dissolution process.
The coalition has already submitted a bill to dissolve the Knesset, which has passed a preliminary vote with broad support. If fully approved, elections could be held about 90 days later, in late August or early September.
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