Israel’s parliament has voted in a first ballot to dissolve the Knesset. The move is driven by a severe conflict within the governing coalition over military conscription for ultra-Orthodox Jews, as reported by Süddeutsche Zeitung.
The ultra-Orthodox parties in Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition are upset because they fear an expansion of the draft to their community. They are pushing for early elections as soon as September. Netanyahu himself is blocking the move and trying to hold the coalition together.
The military draft for ultra-Orthodox Jews has been a political flashpoint in Israel for decades. Until now, members of this community have been largely exempt from military service. A Supreme Court ruling, however, ordered the government to find a legislative solution.
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Source: www.sueddeutsche.de
