Netanyahu and Israel's justice minister reportedly seek to pause overhaul over fears of ultra-Orthodox revolt

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Justice Minister Yariv Levin are reportedly considering freezing further judicial reform legislation for one year, focusing instead on the Draft Law, as the ultra-Orthodox factions threaten to vote against further reform legislation.

Following reports that the ultra-Orthodox parties are demanding a freeze on further judicial reform legislation until a broad consensus can be reached, the latest reports indicate that Netanyahu and Levin are taking the threats seriously.

A report from Israel Hayom stated that Netanyahu and Levin are seeking a one-year pause on further judicial reform legislation and would instead seek an agreement on the Draft Law.

Party leaders are concerned that the judicial reform conflict has damaged their public standing and that any benefits from the legislation are insufficient compared to the social unrest it has created, according to a report from the ultra-Orthodox news site Kikar HaShabbat.

A United Torah Judaism (UTJ) party senior official reportedly said, “We must prevent a split within the nation.”

The ultra-Orthodox parties also feel that Levin has pushed too stubbornly for the reforms, with some suggesting he should resign.

Levin had previously threatened to resign if he could not get the judicial reform package passed.

In response, one UTJ official said, “We are not his kindergarten teacher, so far we have only suffered damage from his conduct, let him resign.”

The ultra-Orthodox parties UTJ and Shas, which represent Ashkenazi (European) and Sephardic (Spanish & North African) religious Jewish communities, are demanding the coalition focus on the Draft Law.

The ultra-Orthodox are seeking an exemption for yeshiva students until age 26, which would effectively mean that yeshiva students would be totally exempt from serving in Israel's military.

On Monday, several Likud members announced they would vote against such a broad exemption, saying, “We will not support the Draft Law in its current form.”

Netanyahu then met with several coalition heads to discuss softening the Draft Law proposal.  

However, the ultra-Orthodox parties announced their refusal to accept a softening of the legislation.

The ultra-Orthodox parties are demanding a Draft Law in accordance with coalition agreements. They also are not willing to give up the Override Clause.

In fact, the ultra-Orthodox parties have been the staunchest supporters of the Override Clause, as they believe the Supreme Court intervenes against ultra-Orthodox issues more frequently than other groups.

On Tuesday, the Likud party and the two factions of UTJ, representing a united front, released a joint statement.

“As opposed to what is being reported, all coalition heads are working in full cooperation to pass both the Draft Law and the judicial reform,” the statement read.

However, in a Tuesday interview with Army Radio, Knesset Member Eli Dallal, said he would not support the current version of the Draft Law.

“Everyone who's eligible for the draft should be enlisted, including the ultra-Orthodox,” Dallal said.

“I deeply respect Torah scholars, but we need to limit it; we can't reach a situation where 170,000 people are exempt [from military service].”