**Shas Vows to Continue Advocating for Yeshiva Students Amid Coalition Resignations**
Israel’s Orthodox Shas party announced on Thursday that it will resign from all coalition positions it holds in the Knesset, relinquishing chairmanships of parliamentary committees in protest over the government’s failure to pass a law regulating the conscription of yeshiva students. Despite this move, the party emphasized it will not leave the coalition or attempt to bring down the government.
“In accordance with the directive of the Council of Torah Scholars, according to which the government must bring to a vote the law to regulate the status of yeshiva students no later than the opening of the winter session of the Knesset—which, unfortunately, has not yet been implemented—Shas announces its withdrawal from its coalition roles in the Knesset,” the party stated.
### Impact on Knesset Positions
The resignations affect several key parliamentary posts:
– MK Yossi Taib, chairman of the Education Committee
– MK Yoni Mashriqi, chairman of the Health Committee
– MK Michael Malchieli, chairman of the Committee for Reducing Gaps in the Periphery
All submitted their resignation letters to Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana.
### Shas’s Continued Commitment to Yeshiva Students
Shas vowed to continue advocating for yeshiva students, describing them as “the secret of the spiritual and historical existence of the Jewish people.” The party declared it would “continue to lead the struggle against the political and cruel campaign of persecution that is being waged against the students of the holy yeshiva, who meditate on the Torah day and night for the sake of the entire Jewish people and for the success of the soldiers.”
The statement further noted, “When the status of yeshiva students is regulated, Shas will return to its positions in the government and the Knesset. Until then, Shas will act in full coordination with the Haredi factions and will continuously consult with the Council of Torah Scholars regarding its position on votes in the Knesset plenum.”
### Political Context and Recent Developments
This decision follows months after United Torah Judaism (UTJ) left Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition over a proposed draft law that would impose severe sanctions on draft evaders. While Shas previously resigned from cabinet positions in July, it had retained its committee chairmanships—a position of significant parliamentary influence—until now.
Additionally, MK Boaz Bismuth, chairman of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, recently announced the cancellation of all discussions concerning the draft law scheduled for this week. Citing the need for more time to finalize legal advice, Bismuth confirmed consultation with Netanyahu on the matter.
### The Draft Law and Yeshiva Exemptions
The Israeli military began preparations to draft yeshiva students after a 2024 High Court of Justice ruling declared exemptions for the Haredi community illegal. Traditionally, Haredi Orthodox men studying full-time in yeshivot (religious seminaries) are exempt from mandatory military service—a policy that remains highly contentious.
The issue has long divided Israeli society, particularly during wartime. Shas and UTJ insist on maintaining these exemptions as matters of religious principle and community identity, though public opposition has grown, especially after two years of ongoing conflict. Many Israelis view the policy as unequal, given that military service is compulsory for all other citizens.
### Historical Background and Demographic Changes
Israel’s first Prime Minister, David Ben-Gurion, along with the country’s leading rabbis, historically agreed to a status quo deferring military service for Haredi men studying in yeshivot. At that time, only several hundred men were enrolled in these institutions.
Since then, the Orthodox community has grown significantly. In January 2023, the Central Bureau of Statistics reported that Haredim are Israel’s fastest-growing community, projecting they will constitute 16% of the population by the end of the decade. According to the Israel Democracy Institute, the number of yeshiva students exceeded 138,000 in 2021.
### Looking Ahead
Israel’s next national elections are scheduled for October 2026. Meanwhile, the debate over the conscription of yeshiva students continues to be a pivotal and sensitive issue shaping Israeli politics and society.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/shas-quits-coalition-positions-demands-120934323.html