Israel: Orthodox parties withdraw from Netanyahu’s coalition

The Degel HaTorah and Agudat Yisrael faction, two ultra-Orthodox parties, withdrew from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition on July 14th and 15th respectively, leaving his government clinging to power, according to Middle East Eye.

Netanyahu’s coalition now has 61 seats in the Knesset out of its 120 seats. The walkout was in protest against a bill not being drafted, one that would exempt ultra-Orthodox Jews from mandatory military service.

Now, the ultra-Orthodox Shas party, which is also threatening to quit the coalition, has said that it will also withdraw. Should it follow through, Netanyahu’s fragile-government would collapse, triggering new elections.

Middle East Eye, Maghrebi.org