Netanyahu loses majority in Parliament in the midst of judgment and bombing

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began to officially command a minority government on Wednesday (16), after the removal of the two main ultra-portodox parties from his coalition.

The 11 -chairs party, announced its departure from the cabinet less than 24 hours after the United Judaism of Torah (UTJ) formalizing the resignation of its representatives in commissions and ministries.

With this, the ruling base fell from 64 to 50 chairs in the Knesset, the Israeli Parliament, which has 120 seats. The rupture takes place amid the prolonged military offensive against Gaza and launches doubts about the political survival of Netanyahu.

The fuse of the crisis was the impasse around the exemption from compulsory military enlistment for students of ultra-orthodox seminaries-a historical requirement of the Haredi (religious) parties, rejected by broad sectors of Israeli society.

Without agreement in Parliament and under pressure from influential rabbis, the two religious parties decided to break with the government, although they signaled that they do not intend to support their immediate overthrow.

“The representatives of Shas … they find, with a heavy heart, that they cannot remain in government and be part of it,” the party said in an official statement.

Even out of the cabinet, PHS leaders have indicated that they could vote with the coalition in some subjects. UTJ parliamentarians, on the other hand, gave 48 hours for the departure to come into force, leaving a short window for Netanyahu to try to recompose its base.

Coalition between religious fanaticism and pressure for enlistment

Ultra -Orthodox parties break after months of tension around the requirement of a new legislation that maintains the exemption of mandatory military enlistment for students of YesHivás (students from Jewish study institutions, called Yeshivot, where they are dedicated to the in -depth study of Torah, Talmud and other rabbinic traditions).

The Supreme Court of Israel determined last year the end of these exemptions, considered unconstitutional, forcing the government to pass a new law to maintain the privilege – which has not happened so far.

Religious leaders accuse the government of betrayal. The Minister of Religious Services, Michael Malkieli, from the Shas, read a note from the Torah’s Sages Council accusing the army and the general prosecutor’s Office to promote a “cruel and criminal persecution against Yeshivá students.”

In recent days, the arrests of ultra -portodox you have increased by dodging military service, which has inflamed protests in religious neighborhoods and increased pressure on Haredi parties.

The arrest escalation occurs at a time of exhaustion of the Israeli Armed Forces after 21 months of continuous war against Gaza.

With hundreds of dead soldiers and the mobilization of reservists at the limit, sectors of the government and the army intensified the collection for a reform of enlistment that includes young people from ultra -portodox communities.

The requirement for “equal division of the burden” began to gain popular support, while the parties Haredi resist, fearing that military service leads their followers to abandon religious life.

With the fragile coalition, Netanyahu now faces an impasse: Keeping religious parties in government can cost the approval of measures required by the far right militaristic.

On the other hand, giving in to the most Belicistic sectors – who require universal enlistment and the continuity of war – can move the rabbis once and for all, undermining the political control of the premie.

The parliamentary recess, which starts on July 27 and lasts three months, was interpreted as a Netanyahu maneuver to gain time.

During this period, there are no legislative sessions, motions of distrust or relevant votes, which temporarily reduces the risk of falling. Still, the threat of dissolution of Knesset follows the horizon if the impasse on the enlistment law persists until October.

Pressure for ceasefire expands cracks between extreme right allies

In addition to the crisis with Shas and UTJ, Netanyahu faces other conflicts within his most radical wing.

Ministers Bezalel Smotrich (religious Zionism) and Itamar Ben-Gvir (Otzma Yehudit) threaten to abandon the coalition if the Prime Minister accepts the terms of a ceasefire with Hamas.

Negotiations, mediated in Qatar, propose a 60 -day truce, the entry of humanitarian aid and the partial liberation of hostages.

Even without the support of the far right, Netanyahu would still have enough votes in the case to approve the agreement. However, it fears losing its electoral base and provoking the total collapse of the government.

The dilemma reflects the instability of the coalition, formed by religious, militaristic and supremacist sectors, who press through contradictory agendas amid a prolonged and unpopular war.

The possible truce occurs in a moment of social exhaustion and internal wear. With more than 58,000 Palestinians killed according to Gaza’s health authorities, and about 450 dead Israeli soldiers grows within Israel the collection for a negotiated solution.

Still, Netanyahu resists bass, seeking to balance his allies and postpone decisions that can compromise his permanence in power.

Bombing to Syria coincide with suspension of audience for corruption

While his political basis was his way, and the ceasefire negotiations advanced, Netanyahu interrupted his testimony at corruption trial on Wednesday (16), claiming “security reasons” linked to the military offensive against Syria.

Hours earlier, Israeli aircraft bombed strategic targets in Damascus, including the Ministry of Defense and the immediateness of the presidential palace. At least one person died and 18 were injured, according to local press.

The action in Syrian territory marked the third international bombing made by Israel in just 24 hours – the other two were in Lebanon and in the Gaza Strip.

The official justification was a response to the clashes between Drudos militants and the Syrian army in the Suwayda region, but international analysts pointed to the “convenient timing” of the operation.

For many, it is a calculated maneuver of Netanyahu to divert the attention of the collapse of its coalition and the fragility of its legal position.

In trial since 2020, Netanyahu is responsible for bribery, fraud and confidence in three cases involving entrepreneurs and favoring media groups in exchange for positive coverage.

The interruption of the testimony for the second consecutive time in the midst of bombing outside the country fueled accusations of political use of war. “He is willing to kill people anywhere to get what he wants,” criticized Israeli-American academic Shaieiel Ben-Ephraim on networks.