Ultra-Orthodox reject proposal for solving draft exemption impasse

The Council of Torah Sages for Agudath Israel, one of two parties that make up the United Torah Judaism faction, rejects Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked’s proposal for resolving the coalition impasse over legislation exempting ultra-Orthodox students from military service.

The council instructs the Agudath Israel lawmakers to push for the passage of the bill before the approval of the 2019 state budget.

Ultra-Orthodox lawmakers have threatened to vote down the state budget if the draft exemption bill isn’t passed, prompting Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon to say he’d bolt the government if the budget isn’t passed by the end of the week.

The exemption legislation is opposed by Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman and coalition infighting over the bill has led to growing talk of early elections.