The Israeli cabinet crisis is over, early election averted

Following Prime Minister Prime Minister’s prescription, his cabinet coalition survived a major rift  over the Conscription bill between the ultra-religious factions and Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman and his Yisrael Beitenu members who opposed it. The Knesset approved a preliminary reading of the watered-down bill (59:38) which Netanyahu had hammered out in negotiations with the UTJ leader Rabbi Litman. Lieberman’s faction was given a free vote. The second and third readings take place after the state budget is approved in the next few days – it is now assured of a majority vote. But first, Defense Ministry amendments will be incorporated in the Conscription bill’s text and it will be cleared with the Attorney General. Addressing the House Tuesday night, Netanyahu congratulated the opposition members, for whom he said he had saved the aggravation of losing another election to his Likud party.