The leaders of Degel Hatorah and Shas, MKs Moshe Gafni and Arye Deri, announced on Tuesday that they would support dissolving the Knesset if no progress was made on the Basic Law on Torah Study, the law to stop the arrests of Torah students, and a kashrut law.
"Today we held a meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu and conveyed to him, on behalf of the great men of Israel, an unequivocal demand to immediately advance the Basic Law on Torah Study and the Law to Stop the Arrests of Torah Students, by convening the Foreign Affairs and Security Committee and the Knesset Committee this week," they said in a joint statement.
According to their statement, Netanyahu “made it clear at the meeting that he is committed to approving the laws and will work to advance them quickly.”
In exchange for Netanyahu's support, Ynet reported that the ultra-Orthodox parties told the prime minister they would be willing to stop pushing for approval of the daycare subsidies and to support legislation splitting the role of the attorney-general, helping it pass the second and third readings.
Additionally, the report stated the ultra-Orthodox parties would commit to support the first reading of a bill establishing a political commission of inquiry into the October 7 massacre, as well as withholding support for dissolving the Knesset.
With the ultra-Orthodox parties withholding support for the dissolution, the projected election date would be October 20, as Netanyahu originally wanted.
Without ultra-Orthodox support, the Knesset is expected to dissolve by 17 July.
MKs decry Netanyahu working with ultra-Orthodox
MK Dan Ilouz, himself a member of Likud, stated that Netanyahu was “spitting in the face of the serving public,” saying it was not worth maintaining his powers for a few more days before elections.
“Certainly not when these moves will lead to a loss of support and defeat in the elections. It is also possible to tell the ultra-Orthodox parties ‘No’ and insist on our national, liberal, and Zionist path,” he added.
Netanyahu is hosting a “liquidation sale of Israel’s national interests,” former IDF chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot said, adding that the premier’s push to hold elections on October 20 was an attempt to “blur the memory of the greatest failure from the public’s consciousness.”
“The people will not forgive you for weakening the IDF during a comprehensive war, Netanyahu. It’s over. You are not worthy of the heavy price this nation has paid,” he noted.
“These reckless laws will not pass, a state commission of inquiry will be established, and Israeli society will soon begin the process of recovery and repair that it so desperately needs.”
Former prime minister Naftali Bennett said Netanyahu is "selling the country's future to the Haredi powerbrokers while sending our sons into Lebanon with their hands tied. It stabs the eye and burns the heart."
He also added that Netanyahu is "no longer capable of anything."
Yair Lapid, head of the opposition and of Yesh Atid, also called out Netanyahu, saying the Prime Minister is "holding a liquidation sale of the country."
"[Netanyahu is] giving our money to the haredim and helping the draft dodgers instead of exacting justice from them," Lapid published on X.