On critical day for coalition, Netanyahu says he’s not feeling well and cuts court testimony short

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cross-examination at a hearing in his criminal trial in the Tel Aviv District Court is cut short one hour into his testimony, after the prime minister said he was feeling unwell.

Today could be a critical day for Netanyahu and his coalition, with opposition parties announcing they will bring to a preliminary vote a bill to dissolve Knesset and hold early elections, amid a crisis between the prime minister and his ultra-Orthodox allies.

The Haredi parties have threatened to back the dissolution of the Knesset due to the government’s failure to pass legislation reinstating blanket military service exemptions for ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students. The legislation, if advanced today, would require three more plenum votes to take effect.

Netanyahu will likely need to work hard during the course of the day to try to stave off the crisis in his coalition.