The ultra-Orthodox party Shas is withdrawing from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition. However, according to Israeli media, Shas has pledged to tolerate the government and support it where necessary.
Ultra-Orthodox parties like Shas are angry about the military conscription of Orthodox Jews. The party provided, among other things, the Ministers of the Interior, Education, and Agriculture.
However, joining the opposition camp goes too far for Shas. Therefore, the party will not support motions against the government, Walla reports. Dissolving parliament and calling new elections also goes too far for Shas, The Times of Israel writes.
The Israeli opposition wants new elections quickly. As far as it is concerned, Netanyahu, despite Shas’s support, now heads a minority government. Such a government should not have any control over matters such as warfare and the budget.
Another religious party recently announced that it would also leave the Israeli ruling coalition, out of dissatisfaction with the military conscription of Orthodox Jews. The Degel HaTorah party wants such Jewish students to remain exempt from military service.
Orthodox Jews are generally not called up for military service, just like Israeli Arabs, regardless of their religion. But last year, Israel’s Supreme Court spoke out against granting exemptions for ultra-Orthodox Jews.
Since then, Degel HaTorah has unsuccessfully sought support within the government for a law regulating such an exemption. The Israeli armed forces need more troops because of their fight against, among other things, the extremist Palestinian movement Hamas.