Story perspectives

Coalition Drops Appointments Bill, Calls Early Election

5/16/2026

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Coalition Removes Bill

The coalition removed a controversial appointments bill, preventing near-exclusive government control over senior official nominations.
Ofir Katz, coalition whip, submitted a dissolution bill for the 25th Knesset, backed by leaders, with a vote next week.
Ultra-Orthodox parties rejected the appointments bill, demanding a permanent Haredi draft exemption.
Kan poll gave Likud 26 seats, Beyahad 25 and informal talks cited Sept 1 or 15 elections.

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Katz Files Dissolution

Rabbi Dov Lando, Hatorah leader, said he no longer trusts PM Benjamin Netanyahu and urged lawmakers to dissolve the Knesset.
MK Ofir Katz submitted a dissolution bill for 25th Knesset, signed by faction leaders, with a vote expected next week.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said coalition is setting aside Haredi draft-exemption law unsuitable for wartime.
Over 1,000 ultra-Orthodox men enlisted in service after a Supreme Court order following Oct. 7, 2023 attacks.

History

Historical Context

After a 1998 Supreme Court petition forced the Knesset to legislate the Tal Law, the 1999 act granted draft exemptions to roughly 250,000 Haredi men, a provision the court struck down in 2012. Renewed Supreme Court orders in 2024 ended subsidies for 1,257 yeshivas covering 49,485 students, prompting Netanyahu’s coalition to revive a conscription bill.

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Coalition Removes Bill

The coalition removed a controversial appointments bill, preventing near-exclusive government control over senior official nominations.
Ofir Katz, coalition whip, submitted a dissolution bill for the 25th Knesset, backed by leaders, with a vote next week.
Ultra-Orthodox parties rejected the appointments bill, demanding a permanent Haredi draft exemption.
Kan poll gave Likud 26 seats, Beyahad 25 and informal talks cited Sept 1 or 15 elections.

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