Why Israel will hold fresh elections—Benjamin Netanyahu’s weak leverage in coalition talks

New Delhi: After Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party failed to form a post-poll coalition in Israel, legislators have voted for fresh elections to be held in September.

This is the first time in Israel’s history when the single largest party has failed to form a coalition government.

ThePrint takes a look at why Netanyahu failed to reach a deal.

Breakdown of talks

In the election results announced six weeks ago, Netanyahu’s Likud had managed to get 35 seats in the 120-member Knesset, the Israeli parliament. The required majority mark is 61.

Netanyahu then tried to put together a Right-wing coalition, but after intense negotiations, talks fell apart when he did not agree to the demand of former defence minister Avigdor Lieberman of the nationalist Yisrael Beiteinu (YB) party, which won five seats in the Knesset.

Currently, ultra-orthodox Jews are exempt from conscription into the Israeli Defence Forces, which Lieberman wants to change via a bill in the Knesset. However, his demand put Netanyahu in a bind, as he also needed the support of ultra-orthodox parties, which have 16 seats in the Knesset and would be opposed to Lieberman’s demand.

Eventually, legislators voted for fresh elections to be held on 17 September.

Orthodoxy & politics

The rule Lieberman wants to change is called ‘Torato Omanuto’. According to this rule, now enshrined in the ‘Tal Law’, men studying in a Yeshiva, a Jewish educational institution, are exempted from conscription, or compulsory military service.

Yeshiva attendees are mostly ultra-orthodox Haredi Judaism groups. These groups are known for their strict adherence to Jewish law and oppose all modern practices and values. They live in self-imposed segregation and reject all aspects of modern life — even the use of smartphones.

The Haredis have had exemptions from conscription since the formation of Israel in 1948, though over the years, it has been upheld via several parliamentary legislations.

Lieberman has been a strong and vocal critic of these ultra-orthodox groups, and has clashed with them through most of his political career. He has also opposed their demands, asking for strict adherence to Jewish law across the country.

“I am not against the ultra-orthodox community. I am for the state of Israel. I am for a Jewish state, but against a Halachic state,” said Lieberman. A Halachic state is one that is governed strictly by Jewish laws.

What’s at stake for Netanyahu?

Netanyahu has dominated Israeli politics for a decade now, but recent developments have weakened him politically.

He is currently on trial for corruption charges. The attorney general is expected to announce the judgment in the case in December, and Netanyahu needs to pass immunity bills in time to avoid prosecution.

He needs parliamentary support to pass those immunity bills, and that weakens his leverage during coalition negotiations.

“Each coalition partner is his own sovereign ruler who takes advantage of Netanyahu’s virtual prison to squeeze him and get what he wants. Each partner holds the key, and doesn’t let Netanyahu out of his cell,” a Likud party official told the Times of Israel.

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