Ultra-Orthodox Party Exits Israel Gov't07/15 06:15

   

   TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) -- An Israeli ultra-Orthodox party that has been a key 
governing partner of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said early Tuesday it 
was leaving the coalition government, threatening to destabilize the Israeli 
leader's rule at a pivotal time in the war in Gaza.

   United Torah Judaism's two factions said they were bolting the government 
over disagreements surrounding a bill that would codify broad military draft 
exemptions for their constituents, many of whom study Jewish texts instead of 
enlisting to the military. The issue has long divided Jewish Israelis, most of 
whom are required to enlist, a rift that has only widened since the war in Gaza 
began and demands on military manpower grew.

   "After the government repeatedly violated its commitments to ensure the 
status of Jewish seminary students," the Degel HaTorah faction said in a 
statement, its lawmakers announced "their resignation from the coalition and 
the government."

   The departure of a party that has long served as a kingmaker in Israeli 
politics doesn't immediately threaten Netanyahu's rule. But, once it comes into 
effect within 48 hours, it will leave the Israeli leader with a slim majority 
in a government that could now more heavily rely on the whims of two far-right 
parties. Those parties oppose concessions in ceasefire negotiations with Hamas 
and have themselves quit or threatened to quit the government over moves to end 
or even pause the war in Gaza.

   The political shake-up comes as Israel and Hamas are discussing the terms of 
a truce for the 21-month war in Gaza. Despite heavy pressure by the U.S., 
Israel's top ally, and mediators Egypt and Qatar, there is no breakthrough yet 
in the talks. A recurring sticking point has been whether the war ends as part 
of any truce and Netanyahu's far-right coalition allies oppose ending the war 
while Hamas remains intact.

   United Torah Judaism's departure has a window of 48 hours before becoming 
official, meaning Netanyahu can still find ways to satisfy the party and bring 
it back into the coalition. But Shuki Friedman, vice president of the Jewish 
People Policy Institute, said the gaps between the draft law currently on the 
table and the demands of the party are still wide, making a compromise unlikely 
during that time.

   Friedman said the party's departure doesn't immediately put Netanyahu's rule 
at risk. A vote to dissolve parliament that would bring down the government and 
trigger new elections can't be brought by the opposition until the end of the 
year because of procedural reasons. And a summer recess for Parliament, 
beginning later this month and stretching until October, gives Netanyahu 
another attempt to bridge the gaps and bring the party back into the coalition.

   Cabinet Minister Miki Zohar, from Netanyahu's Likud party, said he was 
hopeful the party could be coaxed back to the coalition. "God willing, 
everything will be fine," he said.

   A Likud spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.