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Netanyahu Gov't Survives Dissolve Try 06/12 06:24
JERUSALEM (AP) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government
survived an attempt to dissolve parliament early Thursday morning, with most of
his ultra-Orthodox coalition partners joining him in voting against a bill that
would have forced them to register for military service while the country is at
war.
The vote was the most serious challenge to Netanyahu's government since
Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack, the biggest security failure in Israel's history
and the trigger for the ongoing war in Gaza. The bill's failure means that no
other bill to dissolve Knesset can be submitted for at least six months,
shoring up Netanyahu's embattled coalition.
The ultra-Orthodox parties are furious that the government has failed to
pass a law exempting their community from mandatory military service. The issue
has long divided the Jewish Israeli public, especially during the 20-month war
in the Gaza Strip.
Israel's opposition had hoped that the public anger over the exemptions
would help topple the government. But just two of the 18 ultra-Orthodox members
of the Knesset, Israel's parliament, supported the bill to dissolve.
Most Haredi MKs agreed to vote against the bill after Foreign Affairs and
Defense Committee Chairman Yuli Edelstein said he and the ultra-Orthodox
parties had reached an understanding on the basis of a new draft law, which
they will continue discussing over the coming week.
Military service is mandatory for most Jews in Israel, but the politically
powerful ultra-Orthodox, who make up roughly 13% of Israeli society, have
traditionally received exemptions if they are studying full-time in religious
seminaries.
The ultra-Orthodox, also known as Haredim, or "God-fearing" in Hebrew, say
that integrating into the army threatens their traditional way of life. Each
year, roughly 13,000 ultra-Orthodox men reach the conscription age of 18, but
less than 10% enlist, according to parliament's State Control Committee, which
held a hearing examining the issue.
Israel is engaged in the longest active war in the country's history, which
has stretched its military to the breaking point. The Haredim's widespread
refusal to serve, and threats to topple the government during wartime, have
enraged many Israelis, especially those who have served multiple rounds of
reserve duty.
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