16-07-2025
Ultra-Orthodox party quits Israeli coalition, weakening Netanyahu
TEL AVIV — An Israeli ultra-Orthodox Jewish party announced Wednesday evening that it will resign from the government, stripping Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of his parliamentary majority as Israel wages its longest war in decades.
The Shas party, led by Netanyahu ally Aryeh Deri, said in a statement that it demanded that Netanyahu enshrine into law the long-standing military exemption for the ultra-Orthodox community — which currently constitutes about 14 percent of the population, but is growing rapidly — no later than the start of the Knesset's winter session in October. Shas also said it also wanted to see a deal to bring home Israel's remaining 50 hostages held in Gaza.
