Description: After the exit of the United Torah Judaism (UTJ) party on Tuesday, the Shas ultra – orthodox party also announced its exit from Netanyahu’s ruling coalition, citing the issues around the mandatory military draft laws. Shas also gave Netanyahu’s ruling government 48 hours to reconsider their position on restating the law which enshrined that Ultra – Orthodox Jews would be exempted from military service. The party also stated that it wouldn’t block any effort of the ruling government to introduce new legislature and would not impede the ceasefire talks in Gaza. The 48-hour deadline effectively gives Netanyahu almost two months to negotiate compromises around the military draft law, as the Israeli Knesset reconvenes in the fall.
Impact: The political turmoil in Israel arrives in times of widespread instability as the country is involved in a war on multiple fronts in the region while its Prime Minister is facing corruption charges which could jeopardize it’s standing in the government. Ultra – Orthodox parties in the Israeli parliament are considered as the main support for a majority government and dictate the political longevity of Prime Ministers. The Shas exit currently leaves Netanyahu with minority government as his Likud party would have 50 ministers in the 120 member Parliament. The Israeli Prime Minister would have almost two months to renegotiate the exit from his Ultra – Orthodox coalition partners which currently are threatening to indirectly instigate early elections. Netanyahu would most probably exploit Israel’s threat exposure in the region to garner support within his own coalition and some elements of the political opposition while actively engaging the UTJ and Shas attempting to renegotiate a compromise regarding the military draft law.