Israel’s ultra-Orthodox party, United Torah Judaism (UTJ), has announced it is quitting the government, leaving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with a razor-thin majority in parliament.
The Orthodox community in Israel remains embroiled in a longstanding dispute over mandatory military service.
Shas, another ultra-Orthodox party closely aligned with UTJ, may follow suit. If it does, the governing coalition would lose its parliamentary majority.
Overnight, six members of United Torah Judaism (UTJ) submitted resignation letters from their positions in parliamentary committees and government ministries. The move was a protest against the failure of lawmakers to secure continued exemption from military conscription for ultra-Orthodox religious students.
UTJ representatives said their resignations would take effect in 48 hours, giving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu two days to address the crisis, which has burdened his coalition for several months.
Even if immediate efforts to resolve the issue are unsuccessful, the approaching parliamentary summer recess at the end of July provides Netanyahu with an additional three months to seek a solution before his majority is formally at risk.
