Netanyahu loses ultra-Orthodox party support in Israel election blow

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suffered a major blow as the ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism (UTJ) party refused to recommend him to form the next government. The decision strengthens opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot. UTJ announced its refusal after a meeting with President Isaac Herzog, who is consulting parties this week. The party, which backed Netanyahu in 2022, proposed no candidate, citing his failure to pass a law exempting religious students from military service. Netanyahu's bloc now holds 46 seats versus Eisenkot's 56, short of the 61 needed for a majority. The Shass party, another ultra-Orthodox group, still supports Netanyahu but faces internal pressure over the conscription issue.