Likud MKs voted 29-4 to dismiss Yuli Edelstein, a veteran lawmaker from Prime Minister Netanyahu’s Likud party, as chairman of the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee (FDC). Likud MK Boaz Bismuth has been nominated as his replacement.

This is the third time in Israel’s history that a Knesset committee chair has been fired.

Why it matters:
This vote suggests that Netanyahu and his party’s lawmakers have doubled down on their commitment to the alliance with the Haredim and their exemption from the IDF draft.

Background:
Edelstein’s dismissal is the latest episode in the Haredi draft exemption saga. Since they returned to government along with Prime Minister Netanyahu in late 2022, the top priority of the two Haredi parties (Shas and United Torah Judaism) has been to establish a solid legislated pathway for their community to continue to evade the IDF draft. Since April 1, 2025, when the latest temporary draft exemption expired, Haredi men have legally been subject to the draft—although 80,000 of those eligible still have not enlisted.

In his capacity as FDC chair, Edelstein was responsible for preparing a law that would address the issue by regulating a mechanism for some Haredi yeshiva students to defer the draft while increasing enlistment overall. But with the IDF facing a manpower shortage amid the ongoing war in Gaza, Edelstein refused to advance legislation that did not include sanctions against Haredi individuals and institutions that evaded draft orders. With Netanyahu unable to facilitate a compromise between Edelstein and the Haredim and with the Haredi politicians under pressure from their rabbis over the coalition’s failure to achieve progress on re-inshrining the exemption, last week both Shas and UTJ quit the government. While Shas remains in the coalition, UTJ left altogether.

For Netanyahu, the purpose of Edelstein’s dismissal is twofold: to encourage the Haredi parties to rejoin the government and to silence independent-minded Likud MKs who might prioritize principles over the party and the prime minister’s political interests.

Procedure and chronology:

• On Monday, at Netanyahu’s direction, Likud faction chair Ofir Katz announced elections within the party to replace Edelstein as FDC chair
• Hanoch Milwidsky, Nissim Vaturi, Avichai Buaron, Eli Dallal, and Boaz Bismuth nominated themselves for the position—along with incumbent Yuli Edelstein
• The Likud faction voted in favor of Bismuth’s nomination following Netanyahu’s endorsement of his candidacy
• The Knesset Committee will vote to advance the nomination, before it is confirmed by the Foreign and Defense Committee itself. It is expected to pass both votes.

Political implications:

• Unlikely to expedite a draft law. The Knesset goes on recess July 27, with the winter session not set to begin until October. Even if Bismuth is more willing to acquiesce to Haredi demands than Edelstein, it will take weeks at least to prepare a bill once the Knesset is back in session. There’s also a good chance that the FDC’s legal advisor will oppose a proposed bill that re-enshrines the exemption without meaningfully boosting Haredi enlistment—consistent with the High Court’s 1998 ruling that the blanket exemption violates the principle of equality.
• Uncertain whether it will resolve the coalition crisis. Netanyahu and the majority of Likud MKs ultimately backed Bismuth after the Haredim signalled that he was their preferred candidate. Edelstein’s removal was intended as a gesture of goodwill to the Haredi parties. Nonetheless, they have not indicated that they intend to rejoin the government as a result of Edelstein’s dismissal, given that their desired draft bill remains elusive.
• Likely to discourage dissent within the Likud. Edelstein faced this consequence as a result of his willingness to prioritize his convictions over Netanyahu’s political interests. Similar to former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, this episode demonstrates to other Likud MKs that such gambits lead to political dead ends.
• Could hurt Netanyahu and the Likud at the polls. The Haredi exemption is very unpopular among mainstream Jewish Israelis, including right-wing voters. If Netanyahu and the Likud are seen as lending a hand to draft-dodging, it could hurt their changes in the next elections, which will happen before the end of 2026.