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An Israeli media report suggests that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asked Ultra-Orthodox parties Shas and United Torah Judaism (UTJ) whether they would support him in a new government, before deciding whether to dissolve the current government and call an election.

Recent divisions in Netanyahu’s coalition peaked this week when the Yesh Atid and Hatnuah factions virulently opposed the controversial so-called ‘Jewish State’ bill. Proponents of the legislation say it would enshrine Israel’s identity as a Jewish State, but opponents say it would denigrate minority communities. Netanyahu defended the initiative during an impassioned Knesset debate yesterday and a vote on the bill is expected next week.

According to a Channel Two report last night, the controversy and potential coalition crisis over the bill has prompted Netanyahu to examine the possibility of recruiting support from the Knesset’s Ultra-Orthodox factions. Apparently, Netanyahu asked Shas and UTJ to publicly declare their support for a new government under his leadership following new elections. Although both parties have so far declined to do so, they are reportedly mulling such a commitment in private during the coming few days.

Shas and UTJ were both omitted from the current government following elections in January 2013 and have since accused the coalition of an anti-Ultra-Orthodox agenda. According to the Ultra-Orthodox Kikar Hashabbat news website, Shas leader Aryeh Deri has demanded commitments over the minimum wage and tax on basic household goods as conditions for joining a future government. However, senior UTJ MK Moshe Gafni gave a cooler response to Netanyahu’s apparent overtures, telling the Jerusalem Post, “I have been in the opposition for two years, representing a sector that keeps being harmed by the prime minister and his coalition partners, so I don’t have to come when I’m summoned.”

Reports suggest that Netanyahu is using the period before next week’s ‘Jewish State’ vote to assess his options and that depending on Shas and UTJ’s responses, he may ultimately opt to work towards maintaining the current coalition.