Netanyahu survives Haredi revolt over army draft
Source: economist.com
- Binyamin Netanyahu survives a coalition crisis sparked by ultra-Orthodox parties threatening to quit over military draft exemptions.
- The crisis ends with a compromise deal allowing limited conscription of ultra-Orthodox men while preserving most exemptions.
- Netanyahu's government gains breathing room amid ongoing Gaza war and domestic protests, but political instability lingers.
Binyamin Netanyahu, Israel's prime minister, faced a potential government collapse when ultra-Orthodox coalition partners demanded an end to a lapsed law exempting their young men from military service. After tense negotiations, a deal was struck to partially revive conscription while shielding most Haredi Jews. This saga highlights Netanyahu's skill at political survival during wartime, but it underscores deep divisions in Israeli society over sharing the burden of the Gaza conflict.