Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is sitting on a razor-thin margin with 61 seats in the 120-seat Knesset after the resignation of six of the remaining seven members of United Torah Judaism. The disagreement stems from the long-running dispute over the inability of Netanyahu to draft a bill to exempt yeshiva students from compulsory military service. While the lawmakers want to scrap any such exemptions altogether.&nbsp;Degel Hatorah, the Lithuanian faction of the ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism party, decided to leave the coalition on Monday evening, and it was followed by the Agudat Yisrael faction later on Monday.“Following repeated violations by the government of its commitments to ensure the status of holy yeshiva students who diligently engage in their studies ... (its MKs) have announced their resignation from the coalition and the government,” said Degel Hatorah in a statement.&nbsp;Israel Kravitz, a rabbi of the Lithuanian faction, said even though they have signed a resignation letter, they will remain in coalition if a draft bill is presented in a manner that pleases the rabbis."Even after Rabbi Landau signed the letter, we gave several hours to try and fix this," he told Haredi radio station Kol BaRama, “If Netanyahu presents a draft acceptable by the rabbis, we'll go back to the government.”"Time and again, they fail to uphold their commitments to regulate the legal status of yeshiva students," said Rabbi Dov Landau, "the precious crown of creation and secret of its existence."<h2>What is next?</h2>Netanyahu is walking on a very fine line. If the last member of the United Torah Judaism decides to resign, he will lose the majority, and this means a re-election will follow, not immediately, but inevitably. All legislative work of the Knesset will effectively be frozen. However, the ultra-orthodox Jewish outfit has very little to gain from a government change. Though the new election will likely revolve around the conscription bill, they might seek an arrangement which will satisfy their needs. This kind of situation positions the United Torah Judaism party in a swing situation capable of deciding the outcome of any future election.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sits on a razor-thin margin after the resignation letter of the six members of the United Torah Judaism party over the long-running dispute of the conscription bill. 

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is sitting on a razor-thin margin with 61 seats in the 120-seat Knesset after the resignation of six of the remaining seven members of United Torah Judaism. The disagreement stems from the long-running dispute over the inability of Netanyahu to draft a bill to exempt yeshiva students from compulsory military service. While the lawmakers want to scrap any such exemptions altogether. Degel Hatorah, the Lithuanian faction of the ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism party, decided to leave the coalition on Monday evening, and it was followed by the Agudat Yisrael faction later on Monday. “Following repeated violations by the government of its commitments to ensure the status of holy yeshiva students who diligently engage in their studies ... (its MKs) have announced their resignation from the coalition and the government,” said Degel Hatorah in a statement. Israel Kravitz, a rabbi of the Lithuanian faction, said even though they have signed a resignation letter, they will remain in coalition if a draft bill is presented in a manner that pleases the rabbis. "Even after Rabbi Landau signed the letter, we gave several hours to try and fix this," he told Haredi radio station Kol BaRama, “If Netanyahu presents a draft acceptable by the rabbis, we'll go back to the government.” "Time and again, they fail to uphold their commitments to regulate the legal status of yeshiva students," said Rabbi Dov Landau, "the precious crown of creation and secret of its existence." What is next? Netanyahu is walking on a very fine line. If the last member of the United Torah Judaism decides to resign, he will lose the majority, and this means a re-election will follow, not immediately, but inevitably. All legislative work of the Knesset will effectively be frozen. However, the ultra-orthodox Jewish outfit has very little to gain from a government change. Though the new election will likely revolve around the conscription bill, they might seek an arrangement which will satisfy their needs. This kind of situation positions the United Torah Judaism party in a swing situation capable of deciding the outcome of any future election.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sits on a razor-thin margin after the resignation letter of the six members of the United Torah Judaism party over the long-running dispute of the conscription bill.&nbsp;

Netanyahu's coalition on the brink after SHOCK exit by ultra-orthodox United Torah Judaism party

An ultra-Orthodox minister in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu&#39;s coalition government quit today in a dispute over work on the Sabbath, the Jewish day of rest.

But a spokesman for health minister Yaakov Litzman said that his United Torah Judaism party would remain in the ruling alliance &quot;at this stage&quot;, preserving Netanyahu&#39;s slim parliamentary majority at least for the time being.

Similar disputes have caused Israeli coalition crises in the past, but Netanyahu was reportedly seeking ways to prevent further fallout.

&quot;I resign from my cabinet position as health minister,&quot; Litzman wrote in his resignation letter, a copy of which was sent to AFP.

&quot;The decision follows the public works conducted on the Sabbath by Israel Railways,&quot; he added.

&quot;I cannot bear ministerial responsibility for the severe harm to one of the eternal values of the Jewish people, which is the Sabbath.&quot;

Litzman will retain his seat in parliament.

The dispute is over railway maintenance work, which is less disruptive to travellers on the Sabbath when no trains run.

The national rail company says some Sabbath work is necessary for the interests of public safety and to avoid congestion on roads. 
Litzman says that is untrue.

&quot;To my regret, Israel Railways has lately made the Sabbath day national maintenance day,&quot; he told Israeli army radio after handing in his resignation to the cabinet secretary.

&quot;It unnecessarily does all its rail maintenance work on the Sabbath,&quot; he said.

Sabbath begins at sundown on Friday and ends at sundown on Saturday.

Netanyahu had reportedly been seeking to persuade Litzman not to resign by offering backing for various measures the health minister and his supporters favour.

Ultra-Orthodox parties have often played a kingmaker role in Israel&#39;s politics.

They control 13 seats in Netanyahu&#39;s coalition, which has 66 out of 120 seats in parliament.

They demand strict adherence to Jewish law, particularly on the Sabbath, when no work is allowed. Electricity must not be turned on or off and engines must not be operated between sunset on Friday and sunset Saturday.&nbsp;

Israel's Health Minister Yaakov Litzman in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition government, quit today in a dispute over work on the Sabbath, the Jewish day of rest

An ultra-Orthodox minister in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition government quit today in a dispute over work on the Sabbath, the Jewish day of rest. But a spokesman for health minister Yaakov Litzman said that his United Torah Judaism party would remain in the ruling alliance "at this stage", preserving Netanyahu's slim parliamentary majority at least for the time being. Similar disputes have caused Israeli coalition crises in the past, but Netanyahu was reportedly seeking ways to prevent further fallout. "I resign from my cabinet position as health minister," Litzman wrote in his resignation letter, a copy of which was sent to AFP. "The decision follows the public works conducted on the Sabbath by Israel Railways," he added. "I cannot bear ministerial responsibility for the severe harm to one of the eternal values of the Jewish people, which is the Sabbath." Litzman will retain his seat in parliament. The dispute is over railway maintenance work, which is less disruptive to travellers on the Sabbath when no trains run. The national rail company says some Sabbath work is necessary for the interests of public safety and to avoid congestion on roads. Litzman says that is untrue. "To my regret, Israel Railways has lately made the Sabbath day national maintenance day," he told Israeli army radio after handing in his resignation to the cabinet secretary. "It unnecessarily does all its rail maintenance work on the Sabbath," he said. Sabbath begins at sundown on Friday and ends at sundown on Saturday. Netanyahu had reportedly been seeking to persuade Litzman not to resign by offering backing for various measures the health minister and his supporters favour. Ultra-Orthodox parties have often played a kingmaker role in Israel's politics. They control 13 seats in Netanyahu's coalition, which has 66 out of 120 seats in parliament. They demand strict adherence to Jewish law, particularly on the Sabbath, when no work is allowed. Electricity must not be turned on or off and engines must not be operated between sunset on Friday and sunset Saturday.

Israeli minister Yaakov Litzman quits over Sabbath row

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Netanyahu's coalition on the brink after SHOCK exit by ultra-orthodox United Torah Judaism party

Israeli minister Yaakov Litzman quits over Sabbath row