Netanyahu breathes easier as ultra-Orthodox draft crisis cools
Israel's ultra-Orthodox draft crisis seems likely to be resolved, leaving the governing coalition intact until the next scheduled elections.
If we ignore for a moment the sword of Damocles hanging over him in the form of criminal investigations and potential indictments, it would seem that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has succeeded in dismantling the land mines threatening his coalition, increasing the likelihood that the next election will take place in November 2019 as originally scheduled.
One of the main threats that Netanyahu neutralized was the conscription law, intended to manage the enlistment of yeshiva students to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). For many years, ultra-Orthodox leaders resisted the drafting of their youths, considering the topic a red line for the coalition.
While politicians involved in the issue are being very cautious, with most of them refusing to even talk about it on the record, there is a feeling of optimism among those who will. Deputy Defense Minister Eli Ben Dahan (HaBayit HaYehudi) told Al-Monitor that he is confident that the defense establishment will submit legislation that will be approved by all parties and passed by the Knesset in the next few weeks.
Ultra-Orthodox Shas leader Aryeh Deri told Al-Monitor that elections are entirely unnecessary right now. Given that a basic outline for the conscription law has been reached, Deri believes that there will be no elections in the near future and that Netanyahu will finish his term.
