Tel aviv: Israel's ultra-Orthodox Shas Party announced the resignation of its ministers from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government on Wednesday, escalating tensions over the compulsory military draft for Haredi Jews. However, the party, which holds 11 seats in the 120-seat Knesset, stated that it will remain in the ruling coalition.

According to Anadolu Agency, the decision came after a meeting of the party's Council of Torah Sages, which voted unanimously to step down from ministerial roles in protest of government inaction regarding the military service exemption granted to Haredi Jews. Despite the resignations, Shas declared it would not immediately quit the coalition, which could potentially lead to the collapse of Netanyahu's narrow parliamentary majority.

Pressure from Netanyahu's office influenced the party to delay a full withdrawal, as reported by the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper. Shas controls key ministries, including the interior, labor, welfare, and religious services portfolios, and holds representation in other roles such as deputy agriculture minister.

Religious Services Minister Michael Malchieli stated that the resignations were a response to what he described as 'persecution of Torah scholars.' He emphasized that 'participation in the government is not possible' at the moment, but added that Shas would 'not cooperate with the left.'

This development occurs amid growing unrest within Netanyahu's ruling coalition. On Tuesday, the Agudat Yisrael Party, along with its partner Degel HaTorah-forming the United Torah Judaism alliance-also withdrew from the government over the same issue. Their departure left the coalition with just 61 seats in the Knesset, the minimum needed to maintain power.

The draft exemption crisis intensified after a June 25 ruling by Israel's Supreme Court that invalidated the decades-long deferral for Haredi and halted state funding to religious schools that refuse to send students to military service. The Haredi, who make up roughly 13% of Israel's population, argue that Torah study constitutes their national service and that integration into secular institutions threatens their religious identity. For years, many have avoided conscription by claiming yeshiva study, often until reaching the exemption age of 26.