Netanyahu: We’re in a state of war on several fronts and the time isn’t right for legislation that endangers the government coalition

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday addressed his partners by saying that the time was not right for legislation that jeopardizes the government coalition.

This came in a video speech broadcast on his account on X, at a time when the government coalition is witnessing sharp divisions over the draft laws’ conscription, and appointment of rabbis.

“We’re at war on several fronts, facing great challenges and difficult decisions, so I strongly call on all coalition partners to show restraint,” Netanyahu said.

“This isn’t the time for narrow politics, and this isn’t the time for legislation that puts the coalition fighting for victory over our enemies at risk,” he said.

“We all have to focus only on the tasks ahead, defeating Hamas, returning all our abductees in Gaza, and returning our residents safely to their homes both in the north on the border with Lebanon and the south along northern Gaza”.

He concluded by asking everyone to “put aside all other considerations, put aside any side interest, and stand as one man together behind our soldiers”.

Earlier on Wednesday, Israeli Economy Minister Nir Barkat threatened Netanyahu, in a post on his X account, to oppose the draft conscription law in its current form, along with other Knesset members from the Likud party.

Last week, the Knesset voted in a plenary session to revive a draft conscription bill introduced during the previous parliament that would give ultra-Orthodox Jews exceptions for military service.

“I informed the prime minister after the technical vote that I would oppose the conscription law in its current form in the following votes, along with other Knesset members from the party,” Barkat said.

“In order to win the war, the IDF needs more soldiers… Without victory in battle, there is no country and no Torah”.

On Tuesday, Netanyahu withdrew the rabbis bill from the agenda before voting on it in the Knesset in the first reading, arguing that there was no majority in favor.

The bill would transfer powers to appoint rabbis in cities from local authorities to the Ministry of Religions, which is held by Moshe Melchieli, of the Shas religious party.

Critics of the bill say it would benefit Shas by providing jobs for its members.

Earlier Wednesday, the Hebrew daily Israel Hayom reported that Shas leader Aryeh Deri told Netanyahu in a difficult conversation, “You’ve lost control of the coalition, since the establishment of the state there has never been such a bad government for the Haredim”.

For its part, the state broadcaster quoted unnamed Shas officials as saying about the cancellation of the vote on the Rabbi Appointment Law, “No coalition, no discipline… The complete dissolution of the coalition is only a matter of time”.

The current Israeli government coalition includes the ultra-Orthodox Shash (11 seats out of 120 Knesset) and the ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism (7 seats).