Israeli Housing and Construction Minister Yitzchok Goldknopf, a leader of the United Torah Judaism party, has issued a warning that if the Draft Law is not approved soon, the country could see elections taking place this summer.
In an article published by Hamodia, Goldknopf emphasized to his party members, “We have reached the moment of truth. We were all sent here for one purpose: To increase the honor of G-d. The peak of our mission has been defined: To represent the haredi community and the Torah learners.”
He continued by illustrating the party’s unwavering stance: “If you would ask every one of us two years ago, ‘Would we sit in a coalition which cancels the budget for yeshivas?’ the answer would have been clear: No. Would we sit in a coalition which cancels subsidies for daycares? Again, the answer would have been no. If you would continue to ask whether we would sit in a coalition that threatened Torah learners and yeshiva students, the answer would have been clear: No, and no.”
Addressing the repeated postponements of the Draft Law, he expressed his frustration, saying, “The law to regulate the status of those ‘whose Torah learning is their occupation’ should have happened even before the government was formed, alongside other personal laws which were proposed at the request of other parties in the coalition.”
Goldknopf detailed the continuous setbacks in passing the legislation, stating, “We and our demand were rejected. Every time we received another excuse for the delay, they said that it would happen after the formation of the government, after the [judicial] reform, after the budget, after the war. In the meantime, on the issues close to their hearts, the coalition parties have returned to normal routine. We are the only ones who continue to be kicked around.”
Speaking directly to his fellow party members, he urged unity and a firm stance, saying, “I ask today that there be a unified opinion among us, that the Prime Minister or anyone in the coalition will not be able to split us apart. We must come to him together with one demand, in full coordination: Either we fight, or we give in – but together. We have tried in various ways to bring the Prime Minister to a situation in which he will use all of his weight so that the law that is close to every one of us, and what is meaningful to him, will be passed.”
He acknowledged some progress but maintained that it was not sufficient, stating, “We had some successes: [Yoav] Gallant, who was Defense Minister and put sticks in the wheels, has been replaced; the discussions in the Committee began; but it is not enough, and we still do not have a law. We must work with full and tight cooperation.”
Laying out the options ahead, Goldknopf was clear about the stakes: “We have two options: Either we delay the Draft Law and hold elections in the summer, or we insist on the Draft Law before the budget, and the government lives out its days.”
He reassured that any decision would be made with guidance from leading Torah authorities, saying, “Obviously, we will not do anything on our own, without first asking the advice of the rabbis and Torah sages with whose power we work, and whatever they advise – we will do exactly that. Personally, prior to their decision, I believe that we must choose the second option, which dictates passing the Draft Law which will regulate the status of yeshiva students, and only then will the government live out its days.”
Goldknopf concluded with a firm warning, making it clear that timing is crucial: “We all know deep down – and this is what we must explain to the wider public: If the budget passes before the Draft Law, the Draft Law will never be passed.”
{Matzav.com Israel}