Israel's Ultra-Orthodox Parties Quit Netanyahu Government
The Spin
Government-critical narrative
This crisis represents nothing less than the cruel persecution of Torah scholars who serve the nation through sacred study. Netanyahu has failed to protect the religious rights of the ultra-Orthodox community and abandoned commitments to safeguard Torah scholars. Edelstein betrayed agreements and introduced new, humiliating demands specifically aimed at harming the religious community.
Pro-government narrative
The proposed bill regulating the enlistment of ultra-Orthodox individuals aims to strike a balance between religious concerns and national security. Recent actions by the IDF and the attorney general to enforce draft laws reflect a commitment to fairness and equal responsibility. These measures seek to strengthen the military while addressing longstanding exemptions, ensuring all citizens share the burden of defending Israel.
Cynical narrative
The ultra-Orthodox parties are trying to use their resignations to pressure Netanyahu into persuading his coalition allies to support a military draft exemption. However, they are hesitant to push too far, as they don't want to risk collapsing the government and losing the right-wing rule they rely on to protect their religious interests and maintain political influence.
Narrative D
While Netanyahu's rule isn't immediately threatened, these resignations could gradually unravel his coalition, potentially leading to its collapse in the coming months. The political instability also complicates efforts to negotiate an end to the war in Gaza, as divisions within the government hinder cohesive decision-making and reduce flexibility in responding to diplomatic or military developments.
