The Israeli right-wing conservative religious party “Shas“ withdrew from the coalition government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, after another religious political force - “United Torah Judaism“ - made a similar decision earlier this week, Reuters reported, quoted by BTA.
The agency notes that the government is now deprived of a working majority in the Knesset.
“Shas“ announced that it was withdrawing from the coalition in protest over the failure of lawmakers to guarantee future exemptions from military service for students in religious schools.
“The “Shas“ representatives have sadly discovered that they cannot remain in the government and be part of it,“ the party said in a statement.
The withdrawal of the two parties leaves Netanyahu with a minority government, but it is not expected to lead to early elections or hinder efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza.
Parliament begins a three-month summer recess on July 27, giving Netanyahu time to try to resolve the thorny issue of whether ultra-Orthodox seminarians should continue to be exempted from military service.