In Israel, New Government Is Formed Without Haredi Parties In Coalition

In Israel yesterday, Benjamin Netanyahu's new coalition government was sworn in, without the two haredi (ultra-Orthodox) parties that had traditionally been part of past coalitions included in the government. Instead Netanyahu's coalition relies mainly on the secular Yesh Atid party and the religious pro-settler Jewish Home party.  The Times of Israel chronicles the bitter comments by the haredi Shas and United Torah Judaism lawmakers who now find themselves in their new role as members of opposition parties in the Knesset. AP reports that Yesh Atid will move quickly to submit a bill to reform the military draft to include Orthodox yeshiva students, and will also press for inclusion of more instruction in math, science and English in haredi schools.