Israel ultra-Orthodox party threatens government over draft law

Israel's ultra-Orthodox Shas party on Monday threatened to bring down Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government by backing a motion for early elections amid a row over military service.Netanyahu's coalition, one of the most right-wing in Israel's history, is at risk of collapsing over a bill that could reverse the long-standing exemption from the draft for ultra-Orthodox Jews.The exemption is facing growing pushback as Israel wages war on Palestinian Islamist militants Hamas in Gaza.Netanyahu is under pressure from within his Likud party to draft more ultra-Orthodox men and impose penalties on draft dodgers -- a red line for Shas.The party is demanding legislation to permanently exempt its followers from military service and gave Netanyahu two days to find a solution."We don't want to bring down a right-wing government, but we've reached our limit," Shas spokesperson Asher Medina told public radio."If there's no last-minute solution (on conscription), we'll vote to dissolve the Knesset," he said, referring to the Israeli parliament.Last week, a Shas source told AFP the party was threatening to quit the coalition unless a solution was reached by Monday.The opposition is seeking to place a bill to dissolve parliament on Wednesday's plenary agenda, hoping to capitalise on the ultra-Orthodox revolt to topple the government.

Netanyahu's coalition, formed in December 2022, includes Likud, far-right factions and ultra-Orthodox parties. A walkout by the latter would end its majority.A poll published in March by right-wing daily Israel Hayom found 85 percent of Israeli Jews support changing the conscription law for Haredim.Forty-one percent backed compulsory military service -- currently 32 months for men -- for all eligible members of the community.