United Torah Judaism (UTJ) announced on Monday that it would boycott coalition voting in the Knesset, disrupting the legislative agenda, after accusing the coalition of failing to advance promised legislation for the ultra‑Orthodox community quickly enough.
The move marks another pressure tactic on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition. The ultra‑Orthodox parties—Shas and United Torah Judaism—are pushing a series of bills that critics say would benefit draft evaders, granting them additional state support despite an acute manpower shortage in the IDF.
The latest proposal is a bill that would temporarily freeze the arrest of ultra‑Orthodox draft evaders. The legislation is scheduled for debate on Tuesday in the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.
“United Torah Judaism informed the coalition that its members would not take part in today’s Knesset plenum votes because the agreed‑upon bills had not been fully advanced,” the party said.
Consequently, the Knesset plenum is expected to end earlier than scheduled today, UTJ added.
Bill: No arrest, no investigation, no enforcement for failure to serve
The legislation to freeze arrests of draft evaders stipulates that, for 90 days after its commencement, no arrests, investigations, or enforcement actions will be taken for failure to perform military service.
An additional bill fast‑tracked by the coalition seeks to enshrine Torah study in the nation’s Basic Law. The proposal was advanced in the Knesset’s House Committee on Sunday and Monday.
It is expected to proceed to a first‑reading plenum vote as early as Wednesday.
Israel lacks a formal constitution; instead, it relies on a series of Knesset‑enacted basic laws that hold supreme legal status.
The controversial plan to embed Torah study in the Basic Law is part of a push by ultra‑Orthodox parties. Critics contend that the measure would encourage draft evasion and reclassify yeshiva students who skip service, allowing them to retain state benefits.
The bill passed its preliminary reading earlier this month and still requires advancement in a Knesset committee before moving through the three additional readings needed to become law.
The ultra‑Orthodox parties boycotted coalition voting last week, declaring they would not cooperate with Netanyahu’s government until progress was made on the legislation they are championing.
On Tuesday, Degel Hatorah and Shas leaders—MKs Moshe Gafni and Arye Deri—released a joint statement confirming they had met with Netanyahu.
IDF, Zamir warns military at risk of manpower shortage, collapse
The two lawmakers said that Netanyahu “made clear at the meeting his commitment to approve the laws and to work swiftly to advance them.”
Subsequently, on Thursday, marathon negotiations were scheduled to push the Basic Law: Torah Study bill forward this week.
The ultra‑Orthodox parties have urged the coalition to advance legislation that would not increase their community’s military enlistment. The IDF has repeatedly issued warnings about an acute manpower shortage following more than two years of conflict.
In April, the High Court of Justice ordered the state to take concrete steps to revoke key financial benefits from draft evaders and to pursue criminal enforcement against ultra‑Orthodox men who avoid military service.
In March, IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir warned that the military could collapse soon if a solution to the manpower shortage was not found.
These tensions coincide with the coalition’s final push to enact legislation before the next election, slated for no later than October 27.
