Another Israeli party likely to secede from government, putting Netanyahu’s power at risk

The controversy in Israel has intensified over the failure to enact a law exempting students from military service at religious educational institutions.

After the ultra-Orthodox party UTJ, the possibility of Shas also leaving the government coalition has increased.

Israeli media claimed that the Shas party would withdraw from the government coalition on Thursday, but a party spokesman said it was still awaiting instructions from its leadership, the Council of Torah Sages.

According to Israeli media, a meeting of Shas’ religious leadership is expected on Wednesday or Thursday, after which a final decision on the withdrawal from the government will be made.
It should be noted that United Torah Judaism (UTJ), one of the ultra-Orthodox parties, announced its separation from Netanyahu’s cabinet and government last night.

According to the report, one UTJ member had already resigned and now six other members have also left Netanyahu’s side, leaving the Netanyahu government with only a one-seat lead in the 120-member assembly.If Shas leaves the governing coalition, the government will be left with only 50 seats. However, even in such a case, the assembly will not be dissolved for now because the opposition’s resolution to dissolve the assembly for early elections failed last month, so lawmakers will have to wait 6 months to try again.