Israeli Opposition Shows Flexibility on Ultra-Orthodox Conscription

Israeli opposition forces saw a new opportunity on Friday to oust Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, after one of their leading figures showed flexibility regarding the conscription of ultra-Orthodox Jews (Haredim), opening the door to a coalition with their parties that had previously been considered unlikely.

Neither Netanyahu nor his rival Gadi Eisenkot managed to secure a majority in the October 27 elections, amid deep divisions in Israeli society over Netanyahu.

Yair Golan, the main leader of the left-wing faction within Eisenkot’s bloc, also signaled progress, stating, “I am more optimistic than I was on Wednesday morning following the release of the election results.”

Eisenkot could form a coalition if he cooperates with Arab parties, whose number of seats increased significantly amid discontent with the policies of Netanyahu’s far-right government.

However, this possibility faces strong opposition from his opposition partner Avigdor Lieberman, Netanyahu’s former aide who has become a harsh critic of the prime minister, yet holds similarly hardline positions regarding Palestinians.

For his part, Israel Beiteinu leader Avigdor Lieberman said on Friday that he would not back down from his refusal to form a coalition with Israeli Arab parties, but he called on the opposition to negotiate with ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties, despite his severe criticism of them over the years for their members’ evasion of military service.

Lieberman considered the two most important goals to be removing Netanyahu and avoiding new elections, emphasizing that it was time to make concessions and “recognize that trying to get everything carries the risk of losing everything.”

He added, “This is painful for me, and I know it is painful for many others as well. But given the many challenges we face today, the interest of the State of Israel and the Jewish people must take precedence over any other consideration.”

The exemption of Haredim from military service has sparked widespread outrage among other Israelis, while reserve soldiers have been forced to undertake multiple tours of duty during the wars Israel has fought since Hamas’s attack on October 7, 2023.

For years, Netanyahu relied on the two main ultra-Orthodox parties, but they withdrew from his government without attempting to topple it after he refused to pass a law enshrining the exemption of Haredim from military service.

One of the parties, United Torah Judaism (Yahadut HaTorah), abstained on Thursday from supporting Netanyahu in forming the next government during consultations with President Isaac Herzog, but it also did not back Eisenkot.

MK Yaakov Asher of the party welcomed Lieberman’s shift in position, saying that the party’s rabbis would study any formal coalition proposal.

The two ultra-Orthodox parties together hold 13 seats, which would give Eisenkot a slim majority in parliament.

During the election campaign, Lieberman pledged to take strict measures against “draft evaders.” Earlier this year, he described Haredim as “anti-Jewish” due to their demands.

His party, Israel Beiteinu, won seven seats, the lowest among the five main opposition parties.

Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett also focused his election campaign on promises to end military service exemptions.