The Israeli coalition government finds itself divided and potentially on the brink of collapse as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ultra-Orthodox allies push forward the divisive “Daycare Law,” which has ignited fierce resistance across the political spectrum. The bill, designed to preserve state-funded daycare subsidies for ultra-Orthodox men who have shirked mandatory military service, has rapidly become the latest flashpoint in a heated struggle over the future of Israel’s socio-political landscape.
The legislation, which has generated a firestorm of controversy, was promoted by the ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism (UTJ) party. It seeks to maintain crucial financial support for children of ultra-Orthodox men who are legally required to serve in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) yet have abstained from doing so. The bill’s backers have tried arguing that it safeguards religious freedoms, while opponents argue it exacerbates the deepening divisions between secular and religious Israelis and weakens an IDF already stretched thin from over a year of intensified conflicts with Hamas and Hezbollah.
Political Rebellion from Within the Coalition
Cracks in the coalition began to show when two Religious Zionism party lawmakers, Moshe Solomon and Ohad Tal, announced they would not support the bill. Their decision was soon followed by a prominent declaration from Likud MK Yuli Edelstein, chairman of the powerful Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, stating his opposition. This marked a significant blow to the coalition’s once-assured majority, with ten lawmakers from various parties now committed to voting against the bill. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, a central coalition figure, is also widely expected to oppose the legislation, threatening to swing the vote against the government’s favor.
I welcome Shas/UTJ leaving the government. Also welcome the gov't turning off the $$$. I have no hatred of Haredim - I acknowledge their right to interpret Judaism in their own way. However, they cannot get full right of rights without full responsibility. Milchemet mitzvah.
— DagnyTaggart (@RB75_12) November 4, 2024
In a bid to salvage the bill, and perhaps his coalition, Netanyahu is reportedly deploying considerable political pressure, attempting to coerce lawmakers from both coalition and opposition parties into supporting the measure. However, resistance remains fierce, with even some in his Likud party unwilling to compromise their stance on this incendiary issue. The ultra orthodox have threatened to leave the coalition several times since its formation over the issue of mandatory conscription, and while much of the rhetoric is just that, this issue is one that could force them to do so under pressure from their base which has not only resisted, but rioted over the prospect of being included in the mandatory conscription that the rest of Israeli society is obligated to participate in since the nation's founding in 1948.
Additional Demands Spark a Showdown
The Religious Zionist Party of Bezalel Smotrich, already uneasy about the bill’s implications, escalated tensions by demanding provisions that would extend similar childcare benefits to the families of reservists who have sacrificed their livelihoods for Israel’s security. On Sunday, they formally informed Secretary of the Government Yossi Fuchs and Justice Minister Yariv Levin, chairman of the Ministerial Committee for Legislation, that they would not endorse the bill without two specific amendments: first, a prioritization of daycare access for reservists’ families, and second, a unique subsidy credit for reservists to acknowledge their service.
In a desperate move toward compromise, Religious Zionism’s Minister Ofir Sofer proposed that the bill should only advance if a new ultra-Orthodox division within the IDF could be quickly formed, with an ambitious target of enlisting 3,000 Haredi recruits within two months. Sofer indicated that he was open to further negotiations, provided the outcome resulted in meaningful contributions to Israel’s defense. The ultra-Orthodox already receive significacnt subsidies from the government, many of which were conditions of their inclusion in various coalitions throughout the years. This fact alone has been a source of resentment amongst the broader Israeli population that argue the Haredim receive special treatment but contribute the least to the State's economy and defense, while being rewarded for it by making it easier for them to not participate in Israeli society.
“Shas and UTJ will be considering their options now. They are saying that without a law protecting their men from the draft or a law subsidizing daycare, they will leave the government.” https://t.co/Ozd6bUYbjG
— Paul Stewart II (@PaulStewartII) November 4, 2024
Critics Condemn the Bill’s Implications for Israel’s Future
As debate over the Daycare Law reaches a fever pitch, critics decry the proposal as a regressive measure that weakens Israel’s already embattled military and promotes inequality. Many argue that offering subsidies to Haredi men who refuse military service undermines the sacrifices made by other Israelis who serve. They warn that the bill represents a severe setback to Israel’s foundational principle of shared responsibility, creating a stark divide between those who bear the burden of national defense and those who do not.
A Nation at a Crossroads
As the bill heads to the Knesset for its preliminary reading, Israel’s coalition government teeters on the edge of collapse. This legislative confrontation is more than a mere policy debate; it has come to symbolize a much larger ideological struggle over the country’s identity, values, and priorities. The outcome of the Daycare Law vote will determine not only the fate of Netanyahu’s coalition but also the broader trajectory of Israeli society as it grapples with issues of equality, responsibility, and the role of religion in public life.
