Israel's parliament moved ahead with a contentious law on conscripting ultra-Orthodox religious students into the military amid angry scenes in the Knesset on Monday as families of some of the hostages held in the Gaza Strip demanded more action to get them home.
Coming a day after centrist former general Benny Gantz quit the government in a dispute over the strategic aims of the Gaza war, the vote and confrontations underscored the volatile mix of forces buffeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, now increasingly dependent on his allies from the hard right.
The conscription bill, which must still pass further readings and committee hearings after the late night vote, would see a gradual entry into the military of some ultra-Orthdox Jews, who have traditionally resisted serving in the armed forces.