5 days ago
Shas expected to leave government as Netanyahu, Edelstein discuss haredi bill
Because of the government's lack of progress on the haredi draft bill, some coalition parties are expected to leave the government.
Shas is expected to support a motion to dissolve the Knesset, Israeli media reported on Wednesday.
This comes as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to meet with Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee chairman Yuli Edelstein Wednesday evening to discuss advancing the draft exemption bill, which has largely stalled.
The two will meet at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, the Prime Minister's Office confirmed.
This comes after several haredi rabbis have reportedly instructed parties in the coalition to leave the government, The Jerusalem Post reported on Wednesday.
Some haredi parties are considering leaving the government over the government's failure to pass a law that would exempt a majority of eligible haredi men from IDF service.
Edelstein failed to reach an agreement during a meeting with haredi representatives last night, angering the haredi faction Degel Hatorah, and prompting rabbis to issue a directive to escalate threats against the government and coalition.
Haredi Lithuanian Rabbi Moshe Hillel Hirsch said in a statement that he would 'likely' instruct the Degel Hatorah faction to leave the coalition in the near future.
