Israel has sent out 54,000 call-up notices to ultra-Orthodox seminary students. Their long-standing exemption has evaporated and, with it, Netanyahu’s political solidity.
A hefty blow was struck when United Torah Judaism quit the coalition, followed by Shas, reducing the prime minister to a precarious minority in the Knesset.
Netanyahu’s government – already brittle – now totters under the weight of conscription demands.
Political implosion
Out of this political implosion emerges a silver lining. Shared military service may foster unity across Israel’s fractured social spectrum.
As the ultra-Orthodox integrate – under tailored framework units – and the army scrambles with emergency call-ups, public morale and equity could solidify national cohesion.
With Netanyahu’s survival politics unravelling, the opportunity for a genuine ceasefire gains traction.
The removal of Haredi exemptions exposes the truth: only a government perceived as fair and stable can credibly deliver lasting peace – not military might or diplomatic theatrics.
As his coalition disintegrates, Netanyahu must either pivot toward reconciliation or brace for collapse – a transformation that might unexpectedly pave the path to peace in a region weary of division and bloodshed.
