Israeli Ultra-Orthodox Party Quits Government Over Military Draft Law

• The ultra-Orthodox party, a key governing partner of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is leaving the coalition government over disagreements over a bill that would codify broad military draft exemptions for their constituents.

• The departure of the UTF party leaves the Israeli government with a slim majority, with 61 members in the 120-member parliament.

• This leaves the Israeli Prime Minister more reliant on the two far-right parties, which oppose concessions in ceasefire negotiations with Hamas and have themselves quit or threatened to quit the government over moves to end or pause the 21-month-long Gaza war.

• The political shake-up comes as Israel and Hamas are discussing the terms of a truce for the 21-month war in Gaza.

• The departure has a 48-hour window before becoming official, allowing Netanyahu to find ways to satisfy the party and bring it back into the coalition.