This comes as Gallant warned that the occupation state is proceeding with its war “without a compass,” noting its failure to define the objectives of the ongoing Israeli war against the Palestinians in Gaza and on Lebanon. Netanyahu responded on Sunday evening by stressing that the objectives of the war “have recently been expanded.”
According to a report by Israeli public broadcaster Kan 11, ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) parliamentarians threatened to “incite a coalition crisis” this week due to the lack of progress on the conscription law. Netanyahu wants to pass the law exempting Haredim from military service under pressure from his coalition partners. Gallant, however, refuses to pass the law without a consensus in the country, warning of its “repercussions on the army and the unity of society.”
In July, Likud ministers, led by Netanyahu, attacked Gallant while he was presenting a report during an Israeli government meeting on this issue. The complaint was that he was not demanding consensus in the Knesset on a law extending the length of regular military service and in the reserve forces, while he demanded a consensus on a law exempting the Haredim from military service.
On Sunday, the Haredi parties protested against the delay in advancing the conscription law by boycotting a meeting of the Ministerial Committee for Legislation. Netanyahu and his team are reported to have asked them to wait regarding the crisis facing his government coalition “until after the security tension with Iran,” when Netanyahu “is prepared to dismiss the defence minister as soon as it is feasible.”