The controversial amendment to the abortion law, demanded by the Aguda Israel, passed its second and third readings in the Knesset today and was entered into the statutes. The vote was 55-50, the same margin by which the restrictive measure passed its first reading last week. There were two abstentions by coalition MKs — Assaf Yaguri, who left the Democratic Movement last week and joined Likud; and Akiva Not of the Democratic Movement.
The amendment abrogates clause five of the abortion law which allowed abortions for socioeconomic reasons — meaning for mothers of large poverty level families. The Aguda had threatened to pull its four MKs out of the coalition unless the amendment was adopted. Coalition members who had opposed it on grounds of conscience were forced to support the measure after Premier Menachem Begin declared the vote one of confidence in his government.
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