On Sunday 18 Tammuz the cabinet in its weekly meeting decided to dissolve decisions made in the realm of religious services by the previous administration, particularly the giyur reform. On Monday 19 Tammuz, Justice Minister (Bayit Yehudi) Yael Shaked commented on the cabinet decision. She and Bayit Yehudi colleague Education Minister Naftali Bennett voted against the cabinet decision.

Shaked attacked the chareidi parties, blaming Likud for “selling out everything” to the chareidim. In an interview on Galei Yisrael Radio Shaked explained “Netanyahu closed a deal with the chareidim on our expense because of the pressure from Lieberman being in opposition. It was clear from the moment the coalition was formed the giyur reforms were going to fall”.

“There were three options before us; to compel new elections, to demand something else worthwhile; the Justice Ministry, or to form a coalition with Herzog (Labor party). Considering the options we made the correct choice” Shaked added in an effort to explain the formation of the current narrow coalition of 61 seats. She explains that unlike Bayit Yehudi, Likud sold out to the chareidim. “We must tell it like it is. This was the reality of coalition negotiations. The blame is due to a short memory. I do not see how we could possibly have done things differently in light of the situation that existed” she adds.

She told Galei Yisrael that from here on, there will not be additional decisions pertaining to religion and state without Bayit Yehudi approval. “Any matter of religion and state demands the approval of all coalition members. In the event the chareidim want to advance something and Bayit Yehudi does not, it will not move forward” she concludes.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)