Cabinet approves coalition compromise, averting early elections

The Ministerial Committee for Legislation votes unanimously to allow coalition lawmakers to vote as they wish on the ultra-Orthodox-backed conscription bill.

The vote means a compromise deal struck between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and two rival coalition partners has apparently been finalized and is now being implemented.

According to the deal, the conscription bill will pass its first of three votes later this week, before the Knesset goes to its spring recess on Thursday. Meanwhile, Yisrael Beytenu’s five lawmakers, who are fiercely opposed to the law, will be permitted to vote against it.

The bill will then be amended according to recommendations to be drafted by the Defense Ministry, and will face its final two votes in the summer.