Netanyahu pushes controversial legislative packages through Knesset ahead of election

Military service for ultra-Orthodox men

The most controversial bill concerns exemptions from military service for ultra-Orthodox Jews, who in Israel were exempted from compulsory military service for many years. Against the draft law, which was approved in a preliminary vote in June, thousands of Israelis have been taking to the streets for months. The Supreme Court then struck this down in 2024. Most recently, police have increasingly detained ultra-Orthodox men seeking to evade military service.

In return for the government's support for the draft law on military service exemptions, members of the two ultra-Orthodox parties in the governing coalition are in turn to support legislative initiatives introduced by Netanyahu's right-wing Likud party. The former Chief of Staff of the Israeli army and Netanyahu's likely main opponent in the parliamentary elections, Gadi Eisenkot, accuses the government of pushing "laws against the army."

Reform of the Attorney General's office

Another draft law aims to reform the office of the Attorney General, who currently also serves as legal adviser to the government. The planned reform is intended to make the legal adviser's opinions no longer binding on the government. Here too, the opposition accuses the government of wanting to eliminate independent oversight of its power. The current officeholder, Gali Baharav-Miara, is considered a prominent critic of Netanyahu.

In addition, the government is planning a reform of broadcasting aimed at revising the regulation of television, radio and streaming platforms. Its supporters portray the reform as a measure to open up the broadcasting market to competition. Critics, however, condemn it as an attempt to exert political control over media, weaken the independence of news organizations, and create economic advantages for media outlets close to the government.

Broadcasting and kosher certificates

At the insistence of the religious coalition partners, a reform passed by the previous government is to be reversed that had ended the religious authority's monopoly over the issuance of kosher certificates. The original reform had been intended to lower costs for restaurant owners.

In polls for the elections, Netanyahu trails clearly. Nevertheless, the 76-year-old is running again as the top candidate of his Likud party in the parliamentary elections scheduled for no later than October 27. He currently also governs together with right-wing extremists. Netanyahu, who depends on the support of ultra-Orthodox parties to stay in power, has repeatedly spoken out against compulsory military service for ultra-Orthodox Jews.

Political background and poll numbers

A trial on corruption charges has been pending against him for more than five years. In addition, a majority of Israelis hold the head of government responsible for the failure of Israeli security forces during the major attack by the radical Islamist Hamas on Israel on October 7, 2023. In total, Netanyahu has already led Israeli governments for more than 18 years, making him the country's longest-serving prime minister.

With the plan to push a series of politically sensitive reforms through parliament shortly before the election, Netanyahu is responding to pressure from within his own ranks. The religious partners in the coalition are insisting on the military service exemption, while Likud wants to advance its own projects. Observers assess the move as an attempt to keep the coalition capable of acting until election day and at the same time to deliver quickly visible results to its own voters.

At the same time, domestic political pressure is mounting with each bill. The ongoing protests against the military service reform, the criticism of the planned weakening of the Attorney General's office, and the accusations of political influence over the media point to a campaign that is likely to remain highly charged even after the vote on the seven bills.

The next Israeli parliamentary elections are scheduled for no later than October 27. Until then, it remains open which of the seven bills will actually be passed and which will get stuck in the parliamentary process. (By Michael Blum/AFP)