Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu directed the removal of a contentious legislative proposal from the Knesset’s agenda on Tuesday. The bill, championed by his chareidi coalition allies, lacked the necessary majority to pass.

Netanyahu, in a succinct announcement, stated he had instructed coalition chairman Ofir Katz to withdraw the Daycare Bill. He did not provide details on whether the bill would be revisited in the future.

The decision followed revelations that several coalition members were prepared to vote against the measure, which aimed to sidestep a High Court decision barring daycare subsidies for children of chareidi men who haven’t completed military service.

On Monday night, Yuli Edelstein, a Likud MK and chair of the influential Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, voiced his opposition. Edelstein emphasized the need for leaders to bolster IDF recruitment during wartime, saying, “I will not lend my hand to the Daycare Law, nor to any law that attempts to circumvent our ceaseless efforts to expand the conscription base in the State of Israel.”

Likud MKs Moshe Saada and Dan Illouz also expressed disapproval. Additionally, Immigration Minister Ofir Sofer, from the Religious Zionism party, stated on Army Radio that the bill wouldn’t progress without advancements in the enlistment law.

Coalition partner Gideon Sa’ar, leader of the New Hope party, announced his faction’s intention to oppose the bill, stating on Sunday that passing the law now would signal a tacit endorsement of draft evasion. Sa’ar urged the government to “strive to carry out significant moves that increase the participation of all sections of the public” in military service.

Deputy Minister Avi Maoz of the Noam party also declared his opposition, highlighting his efforts to address perceived discrimination against national religious reservists, who he noted have faced significant casualties.

In total, nine legislators voiced their opposition. With the coalition holding a slim eight-seat majority, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant was also anticipated to vote against the bill.

Initially, the government had pushed the bill through the Ministerial Committee for Legislation, setting it up for a preliminary reading in the Knesset this week. The legislation sought to ensure that chareidi men, who are required to serve in the military but have not done so, would still receive daycare subsidies for their children. This move aimed to bypass a High Court ruling that deemed such subsidies unlawful for those avoiding military service.

United Torah Judaism (UTJ) pressed for swift passage of the bill after retreating from a previous threat to derail budget negotiations unless the coalition expedited a law exempting yeshiva students from military service.

The fate of the budget and other coalition priorities remains uncertain if the bill isn’t passed this week. Critics argue that the bill perpetuates military service avoidance among chareidi men, exacerbating IDF personnel shortages amid prolonged conflicts with Hamas and Hezbollah.

The Attorney General’s Office labeled the proposal “unconstitutional,” warning that it undermines equality by promoting avoidance of military conscription. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s Religious Zionism party had yet to take a definitive stance, linking their support to amendments that would benefit IDF reservists’ families.

Amid reports of dissent, Religious Zionism MKs Moshe Solomon and Ohad Tal denied plans to oppose the bill. In a joint statement, they mentioned ongoing negotiations between UTJ MK Yisrael Eichler, who authored the bill, and their party.

{Matzav.com}