The Israeli Broadcasting Authority reported that ultra-Orthodox Jews, or Haredim, have threatened Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with government dissolution and early elections unless discussions on a military service exemption bill are expedited. The Haredi parties, Shas and Yahadut HaTorah, have warned they could topple the coalition, which holds 68 of the 120 Knesset seats. Protests continue following a Supreme Court ruling mandating their military service and cutting financial support to non-compliant religious institutions. The Haredim, making up about 13% of Israel’s population, argue that military service threatens their religious identity.
