Haredi factions push to dissolve Knesset, increasing likelihood of slightly earlier elections

Key Points:

• The ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism (UTJ) party announced plans to dissolve the Knesset and trigger early elections due to the coalition's failure to pass a law formalizing the exemption of Haredi yeshiva students from military service.
• Opposition parties quickly submitted bills to dissolve parliament, with Yesh Atid seeking to fast-track the process, though the timing and likelihood of elections remain uncertain; elections must be held by October 27, 2026, at the latest.
• UTJ's decision follows Prime Minister Netanyahu's admission that the coalition lacks votes to pass the draft exemption law, leading to a breakdown in trust between the Haredi factions and Netanyahu, who was accused of repeatedly misleading them.
• The draft exemption bill is controversial, especially amid ongoing security challenges and warnings from the IDF about manpower shortages; about 80,000 ultra-Orthodox men eligible for service have not been drafted, intensifying public debate.
• While UTJ favors elections around mid-September to maximize voter turnout among yeshiva students, Netanyahu reportedly prefers a later date to avoid proximity to the anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attack; Shas's position on dissolving the Knesset remains unclear.