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.