Ultra-Orthodox MKs ramp up measures against coalition over stalled conscription bill

The ultra-Orthodox Shas and United Torah Judaism parties inform the coalition that they will boycott today’s Knesset plenum session to protest the lack of a law exempting yeshiva students from military service, Hebrew media report.

The decision not to vote with the coalition marks a significant escalation, following a partial legislative boycott imposed by the Haredi parties thus far in which they have refused to vote on private member bills advanced by coalition lawmakers.

Speaking with the Israel Hayom daily, senior UTJ officials say that the fact that Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee chairman Yuli Edelstein “is not providing a draft [of the bill] indicates that he has backed away from the agreements reached. The ultra-Orthodox parties will not be able to sit and vote with a coalition that supports such a law.”

Edelstein on Sunday reportedly presented a Haredi representative with a copy of a watered-down compromise bill regulating the conscription of yeshiva student. However, according to Channel 12, Edelstein only presented a general overview of the new, softened version of the conscription bill, rather than the full text.

Asked about what Edelstein had presented during his meeting with former Shas MK Ariel Attias on Sunday, a senior UTJ source tells The Times of Israel that the Likud lawmaker had presented “nonsense” and that they were still waiting to see something serious.

Speaking with The Times of Israel this morning, one member of Edelstein’s committee said he expected the draft of the revised legislation to be presented today but no official announcement has been made.

The Haredi legislative boycott could delay the Knesset’s approval of UTJ MK Yisrael Eichler as housing minister.