Watan-Israeli media reported Wednesday that the far-right Shas party has decided to withdraw from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s governing coalition, adding a new layer of crisis to the embattled Israeli leadership.
This development follows the recent departure of another religious party, Yahadut HaTorah (United Torah Judaism), which quit the government over ongoing disputes regarding mandatory military service exemptions for ultra-Orthodox Jews.
These exits have severely weakened Netanyahu’s coalition, which relies heavily on support from both Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) and far-right nationalist factions. The internal discord now threatens the stability of the Israeli government at a time when the country is deeply involved in its prolonged war on Gaza, and tensions are rising on the northern front with Hezbollah in Lebanon.
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Shas, led by Aryeh Deri, is a Sephardic ultra-Orthodox party known for its hardline religious positions and political loyalty to Netanyahu in recent years. The party represents a large segment of religious Mizrahi Jews and is a key player in Netanyahu’s traditional right-wing alliances.
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The military draft issue has been a deeply divisive political challenge in Israel. While most Jewish citizens are subject to mandatory military service, ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students have long been granted exemptions—a status resented by secular and nationalist Israelis. The Supreme Court has ruled these exemptions unconstitutional, putting Netanyahu under pressure from both sides.
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Yahadut HaTorah, which mainly represents the Ashkenazi Haredi community, left the coalition first over the same issue, demanding firm legislation that would permanently exempt Haredim from service.
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Netanyahu is now caught between legal obligations and political survival. On one side, the courts and secular political factions demand an end to blanket exemptions. On the other, his ultra-Orthodox allies threaten to collapse his government if such changes are made.
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With the withdrawal of Shas, Netanyahu’s coalition risks losing its parliamentary majority, potentially leading to early elections or a reshuffling of power—a dangerous prospect during a period of intensifying military conflict and economic pressure.
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