Ultra-Orthodox Draft Dispute Puts Netanyahu’s Coalition Under Pressure

Resistance to military conscription among Israel’s ultra-Orthodox Jewish community is sharpening a political divide that could threaten Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.

The dispute goes beyond who should serve in the army. It reflects a deeper struggle over the relationship between religious life and the state, and how the responsibilities of citizenship should be shared.

For Netanyahu, the challenge is to navigate demands for military service without alienating ultra-Orthodox political allies. A compromise that satisfies one side risks deepening opposition on the other.

Whether the confrontation brings down the government remains uncertain. But the conscription debate has become a test of both the coalition’s cohesion and Israel’s ability to bridge divisions over religion, security and national identity.