Likud Court Judge Leaves Party Over Draft-Arrest Immunity Law

Likud Court judge Emanuel Weiser announced his immediate departure from the party after its Knesset faction supported legislation freezing arrests of Haredi yeshiva students subject to enlistment orders. Weiser said the 58-54 final vote granted immunity according to sectoral affiliation and called the party's support disgraceful. A Likud member for more than 30 years, central committee member and former Jabotinsky Order governor, he had publicly warned earlier in the week that he could no longer accept the coalition's direction. He said he would work to weaken Likud in the October election so it would have to join right-wing parties that, in his view, would resist Haredi political pressure.