Israeli Opposition Lifts Haredi Military Veto, Paving Path for Netanyahu Ouster Deal
Israeli opposition lifts ultra-Orthodox military veto, opening path for Gadi Eisenkot-led coalition to oust Prime Minister Netanyahu.
POLICY WIRE — Jerusalem, Israel — Israel’s political opposition declared progress on Friday in its campaign to remove Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from power. This strategic shift occurred when key opposition figures dropped their long-standing block against requiring ultra-Orthodox Jews to serve in the military.
The move opens the door to a previously unlikely alliance with the ultra-Orthodox sector, a development that would signal a significant transformation in Israeli political dynamics. Neither Netanyahu, the nation’s longest-serving prime minister, nor opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot had previously secured a governing majority.
Eisenkot, a centrist security figure widely recognized as a pragmatic tactician, now faces a path to leadership that requires substantial compromise. His bloc’s ability to succeed hinges on swallowing previous objections to the ultra-Orthodox parties’ social and military exemptions.
Recent public discourse has highlighted deepening fractures within the anti-Netanyahu coalition, with rival factions trading harsh criticisms. Despite these internal tensions, the lifting of the military service veto provides a new procedural avenue for coalition formation.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
