image sourced from original article at The Israeli government has postponed the first reading of the 2026 state budget in the Knesset, moving the vote from Monday to Wednesday amid ongoing negotiations with ultra-Orthodox parties over the conscription bill. The haredi parties, Shas and United Torah Judaism, have threatened to withhold support for the budget unless their demands regarding the draft law are met, raising the stakes for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has struggled to maintain a stable coalition since July.
If the budget is not approved in all three readings by the end of March, the Knesset will automatically dissolve and early elections will be triggered. Opposition leader Yair Lapid has vowed to block the draft bill, arguing it enables draft evasion and serves political interests rather than addressing the military's need for more troops. The situation underscores the deep divisions within the government and the potential for significant political upheaval.
