Israeli Ultra-Orthodox Party Quits Government Over Conscription Bill, Shaking Up Politics
United Torah Judaism (UTJ), an ultra-Orthodox party, has resigned from Benjamin Netanyahu’s ruling coalition due to the failure to pass a bill exempting yeshiva students from military service. Six of UTJ’s seven remaining members submitted their resignations, leaving Netanyahu with a very narrow parliamentary majority. The departure stems from a long-standing dispute regarding mandatory military service, an issue that has intensified due to the ongoing war in Gaza and a Supreme Court ruling ending the exemption. The ultra-Orthodox parties had viewed the exemption as a critical commitment for their coalition membership.
John Q. Hosedrinker