Likud says coalition leaders’ meeting held in ‘good atmosphere’

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party says the weekly meeting of coalition leaders was held in a “good atmosphere” as the government continues to bicker over legislation that could lead to its collapse.

“The coalition leaders meeting was held in a good atmosphere. There is still no agreed upon [legislative] formula between ultra-Orthodox parties. The coalition leaders are waiting for the [ultra-Orthodox] version and afterwards will continue the discussions in order to solve the crisis,” Likud says.

Despite the statement from the party, neither Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman (Yisrael Beytenu) or Deputy Health Minister Yaakov Litzman (United Torah Judaism) attended the meeting. The two are at odds over a bill exempting ultra-Orthodox students from mandatory military service, raising the possibility of early elections.

Hebrew media reports say the meeting of coalition heads disbanded within minutes due to the two’s absence.