In a dramatic escalation of the coalition crisis, the gedolei Torah of Degel HaTorah have ruled that the party should back a bill to dissolve the Knesset, setting the stage for potential early elections and a possible end to the current government’s term.
The pivotal decision was made during a late-night meeting on Monday between the two senior gedolim, the Slabodka roshei yeshiva, Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch and Rav Dov Landau.
Following an extended discussion on the ongoing impasse over the chok hagiyus (draft law), the two concluded unequivocally that, in the absence of a mutually agreed-upon version of the law, the chareidi parties have no reason to remain in the coalition.
“There has been no progress on the draft law,” Rav Hirsch stated during the meeting. “There is no alternative but to push for the dissolution of the Knesset.”
Rav Landau was even more forceful, declaring, “When Torah learners are being persecuted, that is a greater danger than Iran.”
According to sources close to the discussion, if a final draft of the law is soon presented and practical deliberations begin in the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, the decision may be reconsidered. However, barring such a development, Degel HaTorah is expected to align with Agudas Yisroel and vote in favor of the bill to dissolve the Knesset in Wednesday’s preliminary vote.
Adding to the pressure on the coalition, Shas has now signaled a similar shift. Asher Medina, a spokesperson for the party, said Tuesday that “Shas will support dissolving the Knesset, due to the unresolved disagreements regarding the draft law.” Last week, the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Agudas Yisroel announced its support for the dissolution.
If no last-minute compromise is reached, the bill to disperse the Knesset is expected to pass its preliminary reading in the Knesset plenum with a significant majority this week. It will then move to the Knesset Committee for further processing before its second and third readings.
Meanwhile, Channel 13 reported that U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee recently spoke with Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch to express deep concern over the potential consequences of elections at this time. “An election campaign now, with Iran and the Yemenite threat at the forefront, will make it significantly harder for Washington to support Israel in crucial moves,” Huckabee reportedly warned.
{Matzav.com Israel}