Shas Party Retracts Threat to Overthrow Israeli Government Over Draft Exemption Bill

The ultra-Orthodox Shas party has withdrawn its threat to topple the Israeli government if a bill exempting yeshiva students from military service is not passed promptly. Initially, Shas chairman Aryeh Deri had given Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a two-month ultimatum to resolve the status of yeshiva students, warning that failure to do so would lead to elections.

However, Shas spokesman Asher Medina later clarified that the party “will not topple the right-wing government. There is no threat and no ultimatum.” 

The 2025 state budget must be passed by the end of March, or the government will automatically fall, triggering early elections. While some factions within the United Torah Judaism party have linked threats to the budget to the draft issue, others have dismissed such moves.

Deputy Transportation Minister Uri Maklev stated that the government is “stable” and will not fall because “there is no other alternative.” Prime Minister Netanyahu has reportedly warned coalition partners that “this is not the time for threats or inflammatory rhetoric.”