Ultra-Orthodox leader threatens collapse of government if Haredi IDF Draft Bill not passed

Ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism party leader Yitzhak Goldknopf recently gave the coalition government an ultimatum – pass the Haredi IDF Draft Law, which grants broad military draft exemptions to Haredi men, before passing the budget, or go to early elections. 

There are two options, Goldknopf said, “Either they put off the conscription bill and we go to summer elections, or they insist on the conscription bill before the budget and the government completes its term.” 

Goldknopf’s comments came from statements made during a party meeting and published in an article in the Hasidic newspaper HaModia on Wednesday morning. 

During the meeting, Goldknopf told his faction colleagues that "we have reached the moment of truth.” 

Reminding the party member that, “The pinnacle of our mission has been defined: to represent the ultra-Orthodox public and Torah learners.” 

"If someone had asked any one of us two years ago whether we would sit in a coalition that cancels yeshiva budgets, the answer would have been clear: No,” Goldknopf continued. “Would we sit in a coalition that cancels daycare subsidies? Again, the answer would have been clear: No. If they had added and asked whether we would sit in a coalition that threatens Torah learners, yeshiva students, the answer would have been clear: No and no!” 

Goldknopf also complained that the Haredi Draft Law was supposed to have been decided as part of coalition agreements made in late 2022. He said every time the ultra-Orthodox raised the issue with coalition leaders, they postponed the decision. 

“Each time we received a different excuse for the delay: after the government is formed, after the reform, after the budget, after the war. Meanwhile, on issues close to their hearts, the coalition parties returned to business as usual (e.g., the reform, etc.).” 

Goldknopf asked his United Torah Judaism party, which is an alliance of two Haredi parties, to present a united front to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. 

"What I am asking for today is only to formulate a unified stance among ourselves, one that neither the prime minister nor anyone in the coalition can divide. That we approach him together with a single demand in full coordination: either we fight or we give up – but together.” 

He praised the firing of Gallant, admitting that it came partially due to Haredi pressure, but said more is needed. 

Ultimately, Goldknopf issued an ultimatum, telling party members, "We face two options: either postpone the conscription law and head to elections in the summer, or insist on the conscription law before the budget, and then the government will complete its term."