A political rift that’s been freezing government action for months might finally be thawing. After weeks of behind-the-scenes negotiations, the coalition leadership announced Thursday evening that it has reached new agreements with the haredi factions, Shas and United Torah Judaism (UTJ). These ultra-Orthodox parties are reportedly preparing to end their boycott and resume full participation in coalition votes starting next week.
The dramatic boycott, which began midway through the previous Knesset session, was the haredi response to the ongoing stalemate over the controversial military recruitment law. But today, tensions eased after lawmakers officially submitted the draft of the new recruitment legislation to the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee — a symbolic but crucial step forward in addressing one of Israel’s most divisive debates.
According to political insiders, Shas is expected to reclaim its previous roles within the coalition in the coming week. However, there’s still a note of caution among observers. Many believe the haredi parties plan to maintain some distance until they see meaningful progress on the recruitment bill itself. In other words, they may be back — but not entirely bought in just yet.
For months, since June, the boycott has effectively paralyzed several government functions. Ministries such as Welfare, Health, Labor, Religious Affairs, and even Jerusalem were left without active ministers, pushing the coalition to appoint deputy heads instead. Ironically, those interim appointments were passed with the very support of the haredi factions now rejoining the fold — a reminder of just how intertwined and complex coalition politics can be.
But here’s where opinions sharply diverge. Some praise the renewed cooperation as a step toward stability; others see it as a political trade-off that comes at the expense of fairness in national service. Should ultra-Orthodox communities continue to receive exemptions from the draft — or is a new era of shared responsibility finally within reach? The debate is far from over. What do you think — is this political reconciliation a practical move, or a compromise that undermines equality?