Second ultra-Orthodox party quits Israeli cabinet
The Shas party said it was abandoning the cabinet to protest against MPs' failure to guarantee future exemption from military service for religious students.
"Shas representatives ... find with a heavy heart that they cannot stay in the government and be a part of it," the group said in a statement, a day after the United Torah Judaism (UTJ) party also announced its walkout.
However, unlike the UTJ, a Shas spokesman said the party was not leaving the parliamentary coalition, leaving Netanyahu with a razor-thin majority.
The move means Netanyahu does not face early elections, nor does it undermine his efforts to secure a possible Gaza Strip ceasefire.
Israel's parliament starts a three-month summer recess on July 27, giving Netanyahu time to try to resolve the long-standing problem over whether ultra-Orthodox students should continue to be exempt from military service.
UTJ has seven seats in the Knesset, the 120-seat Israeli parliament, while Shas holds 11.
The issue of conscripting highly religious Israeli men into the military has been a long-standing point of tension for Netanyahu's nationalist religious coalition.
It has returned to the agenda due to the war in the Gaza Strip, with commanders warning of an urgent shortage of combat-ready soldiers.
While members of ultra-Orthodox communities have been exempt from compulsory military service for decades, the exemption expired last year, and the government did not pass a new law to cement the special status.
The Supreme Court issued a judgement last year that ultra-Orthodox Jewish men must be conscripted into military service.
Many ultra-Orthodox Jews see military service as a threat to their pious lifestyle, partly because women and men serve together.
with DPA
An ultra-Orthodox party has quit Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet following a similar move earlier this week but left the door open to return if a dispute over military conscription is resolved.
The Shas party said it was abandoning the cabinet to protest against MPs' failure to guarantee future exemption from military service for religious students.
"Shas representatives ... find with a heavy heart that they cannot stay in the government and be a part of it," the group said in a statement, a day after the United Torah Judaism (UTJ) party also announced its walkout.
However, unlike the UTJ, a Shas spokesman said the party was not leaving the parliamentary coalition, leaving Netanyahu with a razor-thin majority.
The move means Netanyahu does not face early elections, nor does it undermine his efforts to secure a possible Gaza Strip ceasefire.
Israel's parliament starts a three-month summer recess on July 27, giving Netanyahu time to try to resolve the long-standing problem over whether ultra-Orthodox students should continue to be exempt from military service.
UTJ has seven seats in the Knesset, the 120-seat Israeli parliament, while Shas holds 11.
The issue of conscripting highly religious Israeli men into the military has been a long-standing point of tension for Netanyahu's nationalist religious coalition.
It has returned to the agenda due to the war in the Gaza Strip, with commanders warning of an urgent shortage of combat-ready soldiers.
While members of ultra-Orthodox communities have been exempt from compulsory military service for decades, the exemption expired last year, and the government did not pass a new law to cement the special status.
The Supreme Court issued a judgement last year that ultra-Orthodox Jewish men must be conscripted into military service.
Many ultra-Orthodox Jews see military service as a threat to their pious lifestyle, partly because women and men serve together.
with DPA
An ultra-Orthodox party has quit Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet following a similar move earlier this week but left the door open to return if a dispute over military conscription is resolved.
The Shas party said it was abandoning the cabinet to protest against MPs' failure to guarantee future exemption from military service for religious students.
"Shas representatives ... find with a heavy heart that they cannot stay in the government and be a part of it," the group said in a statement, a day after the United Torah Judaism (UTJ) party also announced its walkout.
However, unlike the UTJ, a Shas spokesman said the party was not leaving the parliamentary coalition, leaving Netanyahu with a razor-thin majority.
The move means Netanyahu does not face early elections, nor does it undermine his efforts to secure a possible Gaza Strip ceasefire.
Israel's parliament starts a three-month summer recess on July 27, giving Netanyahu time to try to resolve the long-standing problem over whether ultra-Orthodox students should continue to be exempt from military service.
UTJ has seven seats in the Knesset, the 120-seat Israeli parliament, while Shas holds 11.
The issue of conscripting highly religious Israeli men into the military has been a long-standing point of tension for Netanyahu's nationalist religious coalition.
It has returned to the agenda due to the war in the Gaza Strip, with commanders warning of an urgent shortage of combat-ready soldiers.
While members of ultra-Orthodox communities have been exempt from compulsory military service for decades, the exemption expired last year, and the government did not pass a new law to cement the special status.
The Supreme Court issued a judgement last year that ultra-Orthodox Jewish men must be conscripted into military service.
Many ultra-Orthodox Jews see military service as a threat to their pious lifestyle, partly because women and men serve together.
with DPA
An ultra-Orthodox party has quit Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet following a similar move earlier this week but left the door open to return if a dispute over military conscription is resolved.
The Shas party said it was abandoning the cabinet to protest against MPs' failure to guarantee future exemption from military service for religious students.
"Shas representatives ... find with a heavy heart that they cannot stay in the government and be a part of it," the group said in a statement, a day after the United Torah Judaism (UTJ) party also announced its walkout.
However, unlike the UTJ, a Shas spokesman said the party was not leaving the parliamentary coalition, leaving Netanyahu with a razor-thin majority.
The move means Netanyahu does not face early elections, nor does it undermine his efforts to secure a possible Gaza Strip ceasefire.
Israel's parliament starts a three-month summer recess on July 27, giving Netanyahu time to try to resolve the long-standing problem over whether ultra-Orthodox students should continue to be exempt from military service.
UTJ has seven seats in the Knesset, the 120-seat Israeli parliament, while Shas holds 11.
The issue of conscripting highly religious Israeli men into the military has been a long-standing point of tension for Netanyahu's nationalist religious coalition.
It has returned to the agenda due to the war in the Gaza Strip, with commanders warning of an urgent shortage of combat-ready soldiers.
While members of ultra-Orthodox communities have been exempt from compulsory military service for decades, the exemption expired last year, and the government did not pass a new law to cement the special status.
The Supreme Court issued a judgement last year that ultra-Orthodox Jewish men must be conscripted into military service.
Many ultra-Orthodox Jews see military service as a threat to their pious lifestyle, partly because women and men serve together.
with DPA
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
ABC News
3 hours ago
- ABC News
Donald Trump says Hamas don't want Gaza ceasefire and its leaders will be 'hunted down'
US President Donald Trump has said Hamas do not want a ceasefire deal in Gaza and that he believes the militant group's leaders will now be "hunted down". It comes a day after Steve Witkoff, the US envoy to the Middle East, cut short indirect talks with the Palestinian militant group in Doha and amid growing international concern over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Meanwhile, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that Israel and its allies will pursue "alternative options" to bring the remaining October 7 hostages home from Gaza and end Hamas rule in the territory, sparking worry that the US and Israel have abandoned ceasefire talks "It was too bad. Hamas didn't really want to make a deal. I think they want to die," Mr Trump told reporters, as he prepared to fly to the UK. "And it's very bad. And it got to be to a point where you're going to have to finish the job." Referring to Hamas's leaders, the president added: "I think they will be hunted down." The remarks appeared to leave little to no room to resume negotiations to pause the fighting, at a time when international concern is mounting over worsening hunger in war-shattered Gaza. Mr Netanyahu had said his government was still seeking a deal, despite recalling negotiators from Qatar hours after Hamas submitted its response to a truce proposal. Sources initially said on Thursday that the Israeli withdrawal was only for consultations and did not necessarily mean the talks had reached a crisis. But Mr Netanyahu's remarks suggested Israel's position had hardened overnight. Responding to Mr Witkoff blaming Hamas for the impasse, Mr Netanyahu posted on X: "Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff got it right. "Hamas is the obstacle to a hostage release deal. Together with our US allies, we are now considering alternative options to bring our hostages home, end Hamas's terror rule, and secure lasting peace for Israel and our region." A Hamas official on Friday accused Mr Witkoff of reneging on Washington's positions and distorting reality after he announced America's withdrawal. "The negative statements of the US envoy Witkoff run completely counter to the context in which the last negotiations were held, and he is perfectly aware of this, but they come to serve the Israeli position," said Hamas political bureau member Bassem Naim, in an interview with AFP. Mr Naim also said that the talks had been constructive, and criticised Mr Witkoff's remarks as aimed at exerting pressure on Israel's behalf. The proposed ceasefire would suspend fighting for 60 days, allow more aid into Gaza, and free some of the 50 remaining hostages held by militants in return for Palestinian prisoners jailed in Israel. It has been held up by disagreement over how far Israel should withdraw its troops and the future beyond the 60 days if no permanent agreement is reached. Mr Trump also reacted to French President Emmanuel Macron announcing that France would be the first major Western power to recognise an independent Palestinian state. "He's [Macron] a very good guy, I like him, but that statement doesn't carry weight," Mr Trump said. Mr Netanyahu called the decision a "reward for terrorism". Western countries have been committed for decades to an eventual independent Palestinian state but have long said it should arise out of a negotiated peace process. Europe's two other big powers, Britain and Germany, made clear there were no plans to act on Palestinian statehood right away. The news comes amid growing concern over starvation and the lack of humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip, as the enclave reels from 21 months of war. Gaza medical authorities said nine more Palestinians had died over the past 24 hours from malnutrition or starvation. Dozens have died in the past few weeks as hunger worsens. An Israeli official has said on Friday that aid drops would resume soon. "Humanitarian aid air drops on the Gaza Strip will resume in the upcoming days. They will be managed by the UAE and Jordan," the official told AFP. International aid organisations say mass hunger has now arrived among Gaza's 2.2 million people, with stocks running out after Israel cut off all supplies to the territory in March, then reopened it in May but with new restrictions. "The Gaza Strip does not need flying aerobatics, it needs an open humanitarian corridor and a steady daily flow of aid trucks to save what remains of the lives of besieged, starving civilians," Ismail Al-Thawabta, director of the Hamas-run Gaza government media office, told Reuters. Israel said it has let enough food into Gaza and accused the United Nations of failing to distribute it, in what the Israeli foreign ministry called on Friday "a deliberate ploy to defame Israel". The UN says it is operating as effectively as possible under Israeli restrictions. UN agencies said on Friday that supplies were running out in Gaza of specialised therapeutic food to save the lives of children suffering from severe acute malnutrition. The ceasefire talks have been accompanied by continuing Israeli offensives on the ground. Palestinian health officials said Israeli air strikes and gunfire had killed at least 21 people across the enclave on Friday, including five killed in a strike on a school sheltering displaced families in Gaza City. Israel launched its assault on Gaza after Hamas-led fighters stormed Israeli towns near the border, killing some 1,200 people and capturing 251 hostages on October 7, 2023. Since then, Israeli forces have killed nearly 60,000 people in Gaza, health officials there say, and reduced much of the enclave to ruins. Reuters/AFP
The Advertiser
4 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Primary school students targeted by anti-Semitic chants
A state education minister has offered support to a leading Jewish school after a group of 10 and 11 year-old students was allegedly subjected to anti-Semitic taunts. Melbourne's Mount Scopus Memorial College said a group of grade five children were targeted with intimidating slurs "on the basis of their visible Jewish identity". The school alleged the taunts came from students from a different, unnamed high school during an excursion to Melbourne Museum on Thursday. A man who identified himself as a grandfather of one of the primary students said his granddaughter was left "totally traumatised". "She had no understanding why she was told she was a baby killer, why she was told she was a dirty Jew," the man told Melbourne radio station 3AW. Mount Scopus Memorial College principal Dan Sztrajt said the incident was distressing and is being investigated. "No child should ever be made to feel unsafe or targeted because of their identity or background," he said. Mr Sztrajt did not name the other school allegedly involved but said the other principal had expressed concern. "Mount Scopus Memorial College has offered to work together with the other school to ensure that an appropriate educational to this incident is made available," he said. Melbourne Museum operator Museums Victoria said discrimination had no place in its facilities. "Museums Victoria is deeply sorry that this incident has occurred at one of our venues," it said. Victorian Education Minister and Deputy Premier Ben Carroll said he had spoken to Mr Sztrajt to convey his "disgust" at the attack on the students and offer every support possible. "It is unacceptable that students or staff feel unsafe in the community where they learn, work and play," he said in a statement. Cabinet minister Danny Pearson said he did not believe anti-Semitism had become a "norm" for Jewish Melburnians. "If you look around our city and our state, the overwhelming majority of people are tolerant, respectful," he told reporters on Friday. "They're not racist, they're not bigots." Asked if the state government had done enough to stamp out the behaviour, Mr Pearson noted it passed legislation through parliament in April to strengthen Victoria's anti-vilification laws. The criminal aspect of the changes, which make it easier to prove serious vilification in public, private or online, take effect on September 20. Victoria Police were contacted for comment. A state education minister has offered support to a leading Jewish school after a group of 10 and 11 year-old students was allegedly subjected to anti-Semitic taunts. Melbourne's Mount Scopus Memorial College said a group of grade five children were targeted with intimidating slurs "on the basis of their visible Jewish identity". The school alleged the taunts came from students from a different, unnamed high school during an excursion to Melbourne Museum on Thursday. A man who identified himself as a grandfather of one of the primary students said his granddaughter was left "totally traumatised". "She had no understanding why she was told she was a baby killer, why she was told she was a dirty Jew," the man told Melbourne radio station 3AW. Mount Scopus Memorial College principal Dan Sztrajt said the incident was distressing and is being investigated. "No child should ever be made to feel unsafe or targeted because of their identity or background," he said. Mr Sztrajt did not name the other school allegedly involved but said the other principal had expressed concern. "Mount Scopus Memorial College has offered to work together with the other school to ensure that an appropriate educational to this incident is made available," he said. Melbourne Museum operator Museums Victoria said discrimination had no place in its facilities. "Museums Victoria is deeply sorry that this incident has occurred at one of our venues," it said. Victorian Education Minister and Deputy Premier Ben Carroll said he had spoken to Mr Sztrajt to convey his "disgust" at the attack on the students and offer every support possible. "It is unacceptable that students or staff feel unsafe in the community where they learn, work and play," he said in a statement. Cabinet minister Danny Pearson said he did not believe anti-Semitism had become a "norm" for Jewish Melburnians. "If you look around our city and our state, the overwhelming majority of people are tolerant, respectful," he told reporters on Friday. "They're not racist, they're not bigots." Asked if the state government had done enough to stamp out the behaviour, Mr Pearson noted it passed legislation through parliament in April to strengthen Victoria's anti-vilification laws. The criminal aspect of the changes, which make it easier to prove serious vilification in public, private or online, take effect on September 20. Victoria Police were contacted for comment. A state education minister has offered support to a leading Jewish school after a group of 10 and 11 year-old students was allegedly subjected to anti-Semitic taunts. Melbourne's Mount Scopus Memorial College said a group of grade five children were targeted with intimidating slurs "on the basis of their visible Jewish identity". The school alleged the taunts came from students from a different, unnamed high school during an excursion to Melbourne Museum on Thursday. A man who identified himself as a grandfather of one of the primary students said his granddaughter was left "totally traumatised". "She had no understanding why she was told she was a baby killer, why she was told she was a dirty Jew," the man told Melbourne radio station 3AW. Mount Scopus Memorial College principal Dan Sztrajt said the incident was distressing and is being investigated. "No child should ever be made to feel unsafe or targeted because of their identity or background," he said. Mr Sztrajt did not name the other school allegedly involved but said the other principal had expressed concern. "Mount Scopus Memorial College has offered to work together with the other school to ensure that an appropriate educational to this incident is made available," he said. Melbourne Museum operator Museums Victoria said discrimination had no place in its facilities. "Museums Victoria is deeply sorry that this incident has occurred at one of our venues," it said. Victorian Education Minister and Deputy Premier Ben Carroll said he had spoken to Mr Sztrajt to convey his "disgust" at the attack on the students and offer every support possible. "It is unacceptable that students or staff feel unsafe in the community where they learn, work and play," he said in a statement. Cabinet minister Danny Pearson said he did not believe anti-Semitism had become a "norm" for Jewish Melburnians. "If you look around our city and our state, the overwhelming majority of people are tolerant, respectful," he told reporters on Friday. "They're not racist, they're not bigots." Asked if the state government had done enough to stamp out the behaviour, Mr Pearson noted it passed legislation through parliament in April to strengthen Victoria's anti-vilification laws. The criminal aspect of the changes, which make it easier to prove serious vilification in public, private or online, take effect on September 20. Victoria Police were contacted for comment. A state education minister has offered support to a leading Jewish school after a group of 10 and 11 year-old students was allegedly subjected to anti-Semitic taunts. Melbourne's Mount Scopus Memorial College said a group of grade five children were targeted with intimidating slurs "on the basis of their visible Jewish identity". The school alleged the taunts came from students from a different, unnamed high school during an excursion to Melbourne Museum on Thursday. A man who identified himself as a grandfather of one of the primary students said his granddaughter was left "totally traumatised". "She had no understanding why she was told she was a baby killer, why she was told she was a dirty Jew," the man told Melbourne radio station 3AW. Mount Scopus Memorial College principal Dan Sztrajt said the incident was distressing and is being investigated. "No child should ever be made to feel unsafe or targeted because of their identity or background," he said. Mr Sztrajt did not name the other school allegedly involved but said the other principal had expressed concern. "Mount Scopus Memorial College has offered to work together with the other school to ensure that an appropriate educational to this incident is made available," he said. Melbourne Museum operator Museums Victoria said discrimination had no place in its facilities. "Museums Victoria is deeply sorry that this incident has occurred at one of our venues," it said. Victorian Education Minister and Deputy Premier Ben Carroll said he had spoken to Mr Sztrajt to convey his "disgust" at the attack on the students and offer every support possible. "It is unacceptable that students or staff feel unsafe in the community where they learn, work and play," he said in a statement. Cabinet minister Danny Pearson said he did not believe anti-Semitism had become a "norm" for Jewish Melburnians. "If you look around our city and our state, the overwhelming majority of people are tolerant, respectful," he told reporters on Friday. "They're not racist, they're not bigots." Asked if the state government had done enough to stamp out the behaviour, Mr Pearson noted it passed legislation through parliament in April to strengthen Victoria's anti-vilification laws. The criminal aspect of the changes, which make it easier to prove serious vilification in public, private or online, take effect on September 20. Victoria Police were contacted for comment.
AU Financial Review
5 hours ago
- AU Financial Review
‘Hunted down': Netanyahu, Trump appear to abandon Gaza talks
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump appeared on Friday to abandon Gaza ceasefire negotiations with Hamas, both saying it had become clear that the Palestinian militants did not want a deal. Netanyahu said Israel was now considering 'alternative' options to achieve its goals of bringing its hostages home from Gaza and ending the rule of Hamas in the territory. Trump said he believed Hamas leaders would now be 'hunted down'. Reuters
