Israel’s opposition introduced a bill to dissolve the Knesset and trigger new elections amid a deepening rift in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition over the military conscription of ultra-Orthodox men.

Yesh Atid, led by opposition chief Yair Lapid, submitted the dissolution motion on Wednesday. “This Knesset is finished,” Lapid said, slamming the government for a string of crises. The move follows mounting tension over proposed legislation that would end decades-long exemptions from military service granted to ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) yeshiva students.

The two Haredi parties—Shas and United Torah Judaism—whose 18 seats are critical to Netanyahu’s 68-seat majority, have boycotted parliamentary votes for weeks. Their withdrawal from the coalition would cost Netanyahu his majority.

Public and Court Pressure on Conscription

Israel’s Supreme Court has ruled that the current exemption is unconstitutional, and opinion polls show widespread public support for conscripting ultra-Orthodox men. Pressure is also growing from within the military, which faces personnel shortages after 20 months of conflict across Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and the West Bank.

Netanyahu’s Balancing Act

Despite internal pressure, Netanyahu has long been reluctant to alienate his ultra-Orthodox allies. However, he now faces ultimatums from key coalition partners threatening to support the dissolution motion if the issue isn’t resolved.

In response, Netanyahu met with Likud’s Yuli Edelstein and senior Haredi lawmakers. A follow-up meeting was scheduled, with the prime minister’s office stating that bridging the divide was still possible.

Snap Election Risks and Opposition Strategy

While the opposition hopes to capitalize on the coalition crisis, political analysts remain skeptical that the Haredi parties would risk new elections—polls show Netanyahu’s bloc would likely lose power. The opposition may withdraw its motion if Haredi defections are not assured, as failure would bar a similar motion for six months.