Likud MK says coalition partnership with ultra-Orthodox parties should end

Likud MK Dan Illouz said in an interview with The Jerusalem Post that the party's long-standing coalition partnership with ultra-Orthodox parties should end. He argued that recent legislation advanced by those parties threatens Israel's future. Illouz pointed to two bills that recently passed preliminary Knesset readings.

One would add Torah study to the country's Basic Law and preserve state benefits for yeshiva students who do not serve in the military. The second would tie daycare subsidies only to a mother's income, a change critics say would extend benefits to families of draft evaders.

Security and economic concerns Illouz stated that the military needs more soldiers after October 7 and that continued draft exemptions create a danger. He added that large-scale exemptions also damage the economy as the ultra-Orthodox population grows.

He said Likud should seek other partners to advance its right-wing, free-market, and security-focused policies. Illouz noted that he has voted against the coalition on these bills and has not faced strong internal backlash.

Primaries and party rules The Likud is scheduled to hold primaries no later than July 28. Illouz said reports that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seeks greater control over the list are circulating, but he does not expect primaries to be canceled. He described the upcoming race as highly competitive, with more than 40 candidates competing for roughly 20 open spots on the list.