Netanyahu Fast-Tracks Contentious Draft Laws to Secure Allies Ahead of Israeli Elections

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is accelerating a series of controversial legislative measures designed to consolidate his right-wing and religious alliance ahead of a highly competitive October election.

The expedited bills focus on exempting ultra-Orthodox men from military service, curtailing the attorney general's authority, and establishing political control over media regulation.

The legislative push arrives just days before the parliament breaks for formal campaigning ahead of the October 27 vote.

Netanyahu faces a formidable challenge from former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, who currently leads in the polls, alongside former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.

To prevent his ultra-Orthodox coalition partners from defecting to political rivals, Netanyahu has aggressively prioritized their legislative demands.

Military Exemptions

The most fiercely debated measure elevates Torah study to a constitutional value.

Approved on Monday, the bill aims to bypass a Supreme Court decision that invalidated decades of military deferments for the Haredi community.

A supplementary bill passed on Tuesday blocks state authorities from arresting or penalizing ultra-Orthodox draft evaders in the near term.

The High Court of Justice issued a rapid injunction on Wednesday to freeze the latter measure, pending a hearing on its constitutionality.

The military deferments have drawn intense scrutiny as Israel sustains a multi-front conflict involving Hamas and Iran.

Conscripts and reserve troops face extended deployments to cover acute personnel shortages.

Eisenkot pledged to reverse the legislation if elected, condemning the rapid lawmaking process.

“These laws weaken the military, weaken Israeli democracy and the judicial system, weaken the Israeli media, and actively undermine the State of Israel,” he said.

Judicial and Media Overhaul

Beyond the military draft, the government advanced legislation late Wednesday to severely restrict the attorney general’s powers.

The move revives a central component of the pre-war judicial overhaul that triggered mass civic unrest in 2023.

Deputy Attorney General Gil Limon warned government legal advisers about the severity of the institutional shift.

“In practice, it’s a vehicle for achieving a deep-seated regime change. It serves as the gateway to dismantling fundamental democratic safeguards,” Limon wrote.

Simultaneously, a new broadcasting bill aims to establish a regulatory board dominated by political appointees.

This body would hold direct licensing and sanctioning authority over Israeli media outlets.

Economic institutions are closely monitoring the legislative agenda. Moody’s indicated that ongoing institutional weakening could trigger a downgrade of Israel’s Baa1 credit rating.

Coalition Calculations

Despite advancing the ultra-Orthodox agenda, Netanyahu notably abstained from voting on the two draft exemption bills.

The maneuver attempts to secure the legislative loyalty of Haredi factions while mitigating political backlash from secular voters.

The government also reversed a kosher food certification reform on Wednesday. The repeal hands the ultra-Orthodox Shas party direct control over the appointment of thousands of municipal kosher inspectors.

Political strategist Nadav Shtrauchler noted that the prime minister views maintaining his current political bloc as an absolute necessity.

“His logic is: first secure a viable government, then worry about everything else,” Shtrauchler said.