Jerusalem: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has lost its parliamentary majority following the withdrawal of the ultra-Orthodox Shas party from the ruling coalition. The decision comes amid internal disagreements over a proposed law seeking to limit military draft exemptions for religious students.
The Shas party, opposing the bill that restricts broad exemptions granted to ultra-Orthodox men, announced its departure after earlier dissent from the United Torah Judaism party on the same issue. With the exit of both parties, Netanyahu’s coalition no longer holds a majority in the Knesset.
Despite the move, Shas clarified that it does not intend to destabilize the government, stating it may still support certain government bills. However, the development is seen as a serious blow to Netanyahu, especially as ceasefire talks with Hamas continue in Gaza with U.S. support.
Although the political shift may not directly disrupt negotiations, it could force Netanyahu to rely more on far-right allies who oppose any deal that could benefit Hamas. Analysts warn this could further complicate both domestic governance and Israel’s approach to the ongoing conflict.