Ultra-Orthodox parties boycott coalition votes after daycare law is pulled

Shas and United Torah Judaism said Monday they will not vote with the coalition in the Knesset plenum after the government did not put the daycare subsidies bill, known as the “nurseries law,” on the agenda as planned. The parties informed coalition whip Ofir Katz that, because the bill was not brought up for a vote, they would withhold support for coalition legislation that day.

In a joint statement, the two ultra-Orthodox parties said, “We have now informed the coalition whip that because the nurseries law was not placed on the agenda, we will not vote today in favor of coalition legislation in the Knesset plenum.”

The move comes amid growing pressure from the ultra-Orthodox political camp, in a dispute linked to efforts connected to stopping arrests of draft evaders. The article describes it as a dramatic step by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to contain the crisis.

No vote on the bill took place in the plenum, and the parties’ warning signaled immediate political pressure on the coalition.