The ultra-Orthodox Shas party announced Wednesday that it will withdraw from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's governing coalition. In doing so, Netanyahu loses the narrow majority in Israel's 120-member parliament, the Knesset.
Shas gave as the motive for the departure the ongoing disagreement over future military service exemptions for religious students. A bill establishing such exemptions did not meet the demands of the party, which takes a tough stance against compulsory military service for their constituents. The departure follows the departure of United Torah Judaism (UTJ) earlier this week, which caused Netanyahu to lose all of his ultra-Orthodox support. Letters of resignation from Shas' ministers will be formally submitted in 48 hours, after which the government will officially be in the minority.
Although Shas has declared that it will not actively undermine the government and will still support some bills, Netanyahu faces the challenge of finding a new majority before the parliamentary summer break.
