Kadima quits Netanyahu-led government

Deputy Prime Minister Shaul Mofaz Tuesday quit the ruling coalition, announcing his Kadima party was returning to the opposition benches after 69 days as member of the ruling coalition. The Knesset faction endorsed his decision by a majority, three lawmakers voting against it. Mofaz and the prime minister failed to agree on the details of new legislation on universal compulsory conscription that was to have ended the granting of exemptions from military and civic service for ultra-Orthodox yeshiva seminarists and Israel Arab citizens.