INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
razor-thin majority in parliament but still enough political support to secure a potential Gaza ceasefire.Six members of United Torah
Judaism (UTJ) handed in resignation letters overnight from posts in parliamentary committees and government ministries, in protest against
ultra-Orthodox party closely allied with UTJ, may follow and leave the government with no parliament majority.The UTJ lawmakers said their
walkout would come into effect after 48 hours, giving Netanyahu two days to try and resolve the crisis which has dogged his coalition for
months.Even if that fails, parliament goes on summer break at the end of July, which would give the prime minister a further three months to
seek a solution before any loss of his majority could threaten his position.Netanyahu is also facing pressure from far-right parties in his
coalition over ceasefire talks underway in Qatar.The indirect negotiations between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas aim to halt
fighting in Gaza for 60 days to allow half of remaining hostages held by Hamas to be released and aid to flow into the battered enclave.It
would also open a further phase of talks on ending the war entirely.National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel
Smotrich want Israel to press on with the war, but Netanyahu would still be likely to have enough cabinet votes to secure a ceasefire
Topaz Luk, told Army Radio on Tuesday.Military ExemptionsIsraelis have become increasingly weary of the 21-month war in Gaza, which began
officials, displaced almost the entire population of Gaza, led to a humanitarian crisis and left much of the enclave in ruins.It has also
seminary students have long been exempt from mandatory military service
Many Israelis are angered by what they see as an unfair burden carried by the mainstream who serve.Ultra-Orthodox Jewish leaders say
full-time devotion to holy scriptures study is sacrosanct and fear their young men will steer away from religious life if they are drafted
into the military.Last year the Supreme Court ordered an end to the exemption
