Netanyahu promises ultra-Orthodox leader to push Haredi draft law amid threat to vote against budget

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets with Housing Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf, head of the ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism party, and promises him that he will push to expedite a planned law facilitating blanket exemptions for the Haredi community from military service when the Knesset reconvenes later this month, Hebrew media reports.

Goldknopf had been threatening to vote against the upcoming budget if the law did not go ahead, something that would have forced elections.

Goldknopf’s threat came as dueling sides within the coalition have indicated a willingness to call early elections over the divisive demand to award blanket exemptions for yeshiva students from military service, which is compulsory for most Jewish Israelis.

Most Haredim do not currently serve, but the issue has long remained unregulated by clear laws amid a High Court of Justice demand to do so.