Netanyahu loses key ally, boosting rival Eisenkot's coalition hopes

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lost the support of the United Torah Judaism (UTJ) party on Thursday, a key ultra-Orthodox ally for three decades, boosting his main rival Gadi Eisenkot's chances of forming the next government. The UTJ, part of Netanyahu's outgoing coalition, declined to recommend any candidate to President Isaac Herzog, who is consulting parties after the October 27 elections yielded no majority. Netanyahu had backed their push for military service exemptions, but his failure to pass a law enshrining this angered the ultra-Orthodox factions. Netanyahu's expected support drops to 46 seats, while Eisenkot, backed by the Raam party, has 56 recommendations, short of the 61 needed for a Knesset majority. The Arab United List, with 11 seats, has not yet announced its choice, and Herzog has until November 11 to name a candidate.