As tensions intensify over the draft law crisis threatening to fracture Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s sixth government, new efforts are underway to prevent the withdrawal of chareidi parties from the coalition. In a high-stakes meeting Thursday between Netanyahu, Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Chairman MK Yoel “Yuli” Edelstein, and former minister Ariel Attias, no resolution was reached.
But now, according to sources close to the Prime Minister, a compromise proposal has been floated to delay the implementation of controversial sanctions against Torah learners by several months. This delay would come after the passage of the draft law and is intended to ease the mounting pressure on coalition partners.
Initially, Netanyahu’s office downplayed the threats by chareidi factions to quit the government, but once it became clear that the ultimatum was real and imminent, last-ditch efforts were launched to keep the chareidi parties in the coalition at least through the end of the Knesset’s summer session.
Despite these attempts, Thursday’s hours-long meeting reportedly ended without agreement, despite a late-night statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office implying progress.
As reported extensively here, Edelstein remains firm on his stance. Sources close to him reiterated on this Sunday evening, “The sanctions will take effect from the first minute. Even from a technical standpoint, there is no other possibility.”
Meanwhile, chareidi political insiders have grown weary of Netanyahu’s repeated promises. Askanim remarked, “If by Wednesday there is no finalized, mutually agreed draft law, we will vote to dissolve the Knesset. Enough with the endless talk of ‘significant progress.’”
Particular attention is being paid to United Torah Judaism. While Minister Yitzchok Goldknopf is reportedly set to resign imminently following directives from the Gerrer Rebbe, Netanyahu’s main efforts are currently aimed at retaining the support of the other UTJ faction, Degel HaTorah.
Within Shas, as well as Degel HaTorah, there currently appears to be no immediate interest in quitting the coalition. However, there is growing consensus that if the draft law doesn’t pass or at least show tangible movement, remaining in the government may be pointless.
Channel 12 reported tonight that in addition to the sanctions first revealed earlier here on Matzav.com, the Finance Ministry is holding a broader set of financial penalties that could be imposed on the olam haTorah without requiring additional legislation. These include the cancellation of mortgage subsidies, cuts to after-school program discounts, removal of reduced fares for public transportation, and elimination of discounts on municipal property tax and National Insurance payments.
{Matzav.com Israel}