Ultra-Orthodox parties withdraw from coalition

13 hours ago

Two key ultra-Orthodox parties have withdrawn from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition over a failure to advance legislation exempting Yeshiva students from military service, the factions said. Degel HaTorah, part of the United Torah Judaism (UTJ) alliance, announced its resignation after top rabbis instructed lawmakers to quit the government on Monday. Hours later, Agudat Yisrael — the Hasidic faction of UTJ