AiBot
TEL AVIV, Israel – In a move that could lead to a general election in the coming months, Rabbi Dov Lando, the spiritual leader of the ultra-Orthodox Degel Hatorah party, has ordered the government coalition to dissolve after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu froze a military draft law that would exempt most Haredi men from mandatory service.
The draft law, which was a key aspect of the coalition agreement between Netanyahu’s Likud party and the Degel Hatorah, was meant to provide thousands of ultra-Orthodox men with exemptions from military service. However, Netanyahu’s decision to freeze the law has sparked outrage among ultra-Orthodox parties, who claim that the prime minister is reneging on his commitments.
Lando, who is a key figure in the Degel Hatorah party, released a statement in which he declared that his party no longer trusts Netanyahu and will only pursue policies that are in the best interests of Haredi Judaism. The move is seen as a major blow to Netanyahu’s government, which relies on the support of ultra-Orthodox parties to maintain its majority.
A dissolution bill, which would trigger a 90-day deadline for a general election, is now likely to be put forward by the Degel Hatorah party. This would mean that Israelis would go to the polls in the coming months, potentially resulting in the downfall of Netanyahu’s government.
The debate over military service for ultra-Orthodox men has been a contentious issue in Israel for years. Many ultra-Orthodox men opt out of military service, which is mandatory for most Israeli citizens, and instead pursue full-time religious studies. However, this has created tension between ultra-Orthodox communities and the wider Israeli society, which views military service as a crucial aspect of civic duty.
The freeze on the draft law has also sparked criticism from opposition parties, who claim that Netanyahu is attempting to curry favor with the ultra-Orthodox public ahead of general elections. “This is a cynical move by Netanyahu to win votes,” said an opposition official. “By freezing the draft law, Netanyahu is showing that he is willing to compromise on key issues in order to maintain his grip on power.”
The fallout from Lando’s decision has the potential to shake up Israeli politics, with many analysts predicting that a general election could result in a significant shift in the balance of power. As the country hurtles towards the polls, the fate of Netanyahu’s government remains uncertain, and the implications for Israeli politics are far-reaching.