United Torah Judaism told the coalition Monday evening that it will not vote for any legislation unless the Torah Study Basic Law and the bill freezing arrests of draft-evading yeshiva students are approved, according to N12, joining Shas's earlier ultimatum and hardening the Haredi bloc's stance in the ongoing coalition standoff over military service.
The coalition crisis over ultra-Orthodox military service deepened Monday evening as United Torah Judaism (UTJ) informed the coalition that it will not support any legislation until two bills are advanced: the Basic Law: Torah Study and the bill halting arrests of yeshiva draft evaders, according to N12.
UTJ's ultimatum follows a similar move earlier Monday by Shas chairman Aryeh Deri, who told his faction that Shas would withhold votes for coalition legislation unless the arrests of yeshiva students cease and the Torah Study Basic Law progresses. As The Zioneer reported earlier, Deri's warning marked a sharp escalation of a weeks-long intra-coalition dispute.
The two Haredi parties, which together hold key coalition seats, are now presenting a united front — significantly hardening the negotiating position against Likud and other coalition partners. The Torah Study Basic Law, which both parties have submitted, aims to anchor yeshiva study as a constitutionally protected value, while the arrest-freeze bill targets what the Haredi leadership considers an unjust crackdown on draft-avoiding students.
It remains unclear how Prime Minister Netanyahu and coalition leaders will respond, and whether the ultimatum will force a broader legislative slowdown or trigger early negotiations to avert a coalition crisis.
- StrongDeri to coalition: no votes for any legislation unless Torah Study Basic Law advances
- DevelopingShas: no votes for coalition legislation unless draft-evader arrests end
- DevelopingCoalition leaders agree: Basic Law Torah Study and freeze on draft-dodger arrests to pass before Knesset disperses
- StrongHaredi parties issue ultimatum to Netanyahu: pass Torah Study law or face Knesset dissolution
Source and signal
- Internal intake