Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition narrowly avoided early elections by defeating a parliamentary dissolution bid following a deal on mandatory military service for ultra-Orthodox Jews amid ongoing security and political tensions.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition narrowly averted a significant political crisis after surviving an opposition-backed attempt to dissolve the Knesset, following a breakthrough agreement on the contentious issue of mandatory military service for ultra-Orthodox Jews.

The motion to dissolve parliament was defeated early on Thursday by a margin of 61 votes to 53, preventing the prospect of early elections and providing a temporary reprieve for Netanyahu’s government. The opposition, bolstered by ultra-Orthodox parties frustrated with ongoing debates over draft exemptions, had sought to force elections by pushing the conscription bill.

Military service in Israel is compulsory, but since the state’s founding, ultra-Orthodox men engaged in full-time religious study have been granted exemptions. This arrangement, once tolerated due to the small size of the ultra-Orthodox community, has become a source of fierce controversy as Israel’s ultra-Orthodox population has grown and the government has sought to increase military manpower amid ongoing security challenges, particularly Israel’s military operations in Gaza.

Netanyahu’s coalition, formed in December 2022, is one of the most right-wing in Israel’s history, and the issue of ultra-Orthodox conscription has exacerbated tensions within the alliance. Netanyahu faces mounting pressure from his Likud party and military officials to increase enlistment rates among ultra-Orthodox men and impose penalties on draft dodgers. However, religious parties such as Shas and United Torah Judaism (UTJ), who are critical coalition partners, demand the preservation of exemptions for their constituents.

Ahead of the vote, far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich warned that dissolving the government during wartime would constitute an “existential danger” to Israel’s future, urging unity in the face of external threats. Most ultra-Orthodox lawmakers ultimately withdrew their support for the dissolution motion, contributing to its narrow defeat.

Following the vote, the opposition will be barred from submitting another dissolution motion for six months, providing Netanyahu’s coalition a temporary window to manage its internal divisions and the contentious conscription issue.

The deal reached on the principles underlying the draft law signals a tentative step forward, but the conscription debate is far from resolved. The government must now balance the competing demands of bolstering Israel’s defence forces during ongoing conflict, respecting religious exemptions, and maintaining coalition cohesion.

As tensions simmer, analysts warn that the political landscape remains fragile, with future challenges likely to test the durability of Netanyahu’s government.