Second ultra-Orthodox party leaves Israeli government, Netanyahu loses majority

AUTHOR:M.J. GDNUS

The ultra-Orthodox party left Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition on Monday, after another religious group did so earlier this week, leaving the government without a working majority in parliament.

The Shas party said it was leaving the coalition in protest over lawmakers' failure to provide guarantees for future exemptions for religious students from military service.

"Shas representatives... conclude with a heavy heart that they cannot remain in the government and be part of it," the party said in a statement, a day after the United Torah Judaism (UTJ) party also announced it was leaving the coalition.

The joint move leaves Netanyahu with a minority government, but is not expected to trigger immediate elections or thwart efforts toward a possible ceasefire in Gaza.

The Israeli parliament goes into a three-month summer recess on July 27, giving Netanyahu additional time to try to resolve a long-standing issue over whether ultra-Orthodox students should continue to be exempt from military service.