Shas announces its withdrawal from Netanyahu's government

The Shas movement announced Wednesday evening its withdrawal from the Israeli government and the resignation of its ministers from their positions, in light of the crisis over the exemption of Haredim (religious Jews) from military service.

The Shas movement has frozen its formal participation in the government, including ministerial work, without actually withdrawing from the coalition. If Shas (11 members) withdraws from the coalition, the coalition will lose its majority in the Knesset, which is at least 61 out of 120 members. This means the government will either collapse or remain a minority government for a period.

Despite the freeze, Shas retained its members' positions in Israeli Knesset committees.

The movement confirmed that it will not vote in favor of no-confidence motions against the government until the end of the Knesset's summer session in late July, and will continue working in parliamentary committees.

This move comes after the Degel HaTorah and Agudat Yisrael parties, which make up the United Torah Judaism coalition, withdrew in protest over the failure to pass the law exempting Haredim from military service.

The Haredim continue their protests against military service, following a Supreme Court ruling on June 25, 2024, requiring them to enlist and prohibiting financial assistance to religious institutions whose students refuse military service.