Netanyahu’s Ultra-Orthodox Allies Threaten His Coalition Government

The future of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government was thrown into doubt when an ultra-Orthodox party in Israel announced it was pulling out of the ruling coalition on Monday night. If more parties quit, they could weaken Mr. Netanyahu’s grip on power and bring Israel a step closer to its first elections since the war in Gaza began in October 2023.

At issue was a longstanding debate in the country over whether ultra-Orthodox religious students, who have long received exemptions from military service, can be conscripted. They argue that serving threatens their way of life, but many other Jewish Israelis resent what they regard as special treatment.

The issue has become more fraught during the Gaza war. Hundreds of Israeli soldiers have been killed in the conflict, prompting accusations that the ultra-Orthodox are sitting by while others die for them in battle.

The coalition fight is unlikely to topple Mr. Netanyahu's government immediately, analysts say. But it will inject further instability into Israeli politics as the leaders of different parties clash over a cease-fire to end the war in Gaza and as fighting continues in Lebanon and Syria.

Here’s what we know about the political crisis.

How did Israel reach this point?

Most Jewish Israelis are conscripted into the military after high school, but ultra-Orthodox men are often exempted so they can study holy texts. The policy has prompted an emotional debate over whether they should have to enlist.

Many in Israel’s ultra-Orthodox community — known in Hebrew as Haredim, or those who fear God — view full-time religious study as a supreme value. They argue that their scholarship has ensured the survival of the Jewish people for centuries.