Haredi draft bill debates resume amid coalition crisis ahead of Knesset dissolution vote

The Israeli Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee has resumed debates on the contentious haredi (ultra-Orthodox) draft bill, a move seen as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's last-ditch effort to prevent the dissolution of the coalition government.

This legislative push comes at a critical juncture, with a vote on dissolving the Knesset scheduled for the afternoon. The advancement of the draft bill, which had been stalled for months, was unexpectedly revived just hours before this pivotal vote. The urgency stems from the ongoing crisis with the ultra-Orthodox parties, Shas and United Torah Judaism, who are reportedly pushing for elections to be moved up to September, potentially before the High Holy Days, to maximize haredi voter turnout.

Netanyahu, however, appears to favor keeping the elections in late October, a timeline that would allow his coalition more time to pass legislation and potentially achieve military objectives. The pressure from the Prime Minister's office on coalition lawmakers to support the haredi draft legislation is reportedly immense, with threats of public shaming for any Likud members who oppose it.

Despite these efforts, key figures within the haredi parties, such as Rabbi Dov Lando and MK Moshe Gafni, have maintained their stance in favor of dissolving the Knesset. The complex political maneuvering highlights the deep divisions within the coalition and the significant influence of the ultra-Orthodox parties on the government's stability and legislative agenda. The potential dissolution of the Knesset means elections could be moved up to September or mid-October, as a minimum 90-day period must pass after dissolution before voting can occur.

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coalition lawmakers were under “massive pressure” from Netanyahu’s coalition to support the haredi draft legislation. She added that one of the aspects of the pressure was the threat to “publicly shame Likud members who vote against the law.”