Political struggle of far-right ally Smotrich shows faultline in Netanyahu coalition

AI Summary

Israel's far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich faces political struggle within the Netanyahu coalition ahead of the October elections due to controversy among West Bank settlers over military service exemptions. This highlights challenges in maintaining coalition unity amid ongoing regional conflict.

By Emily Rose BEIT EL, West Bank, Aug 7 (Reuters) - Israel's far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich faces a fight for political survival in elections in October after angering his fellow West Bank settlers by voting not to punish ultra-Orthodox Jews who refuse to serve in the military. The political travails of Smotrich are a sign of how tricky it will be for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to shepherd allies in his quarrelsome coalition through the October 27 election, Israel's first since the start of the Gaza war.