On Sunday, 20 Sivan, former Likud minister Moshe Nissim is scheduled to submit his recommendations for giyur to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. The recommendations of this committee are expected to bring an end to the crisis surrounding giyur. HaRav Yaakov Ariel Shlita, who was among the rabbonim signing approval of the recommendations, has removed his support, explaining he was duped. He told persons close to him that the version he was shown “was inaccurate”.

Persons close to the rav explain he was duped, as after he signed signaling his support they learned another version other than the one shown to him exists. He added that the bottom line is the recommendations will not have influence on the Chief Rabbinate of Israel in any event, and therefore, her removed his signature.

According to recent developments and with the opposition of the chareidim, it is likely that the conversion law will continue to linger and lead to a severe coalition crisis. According to the committee’s opponents, which was set up last September, a plan was drafted that would enable conversions outside the framework of the Chief Rabbinate, such as Reform and Conservative organizations, without the necessary approval from the rabbinate.

Rabbi Ariel is joined by Rabbi Shmuel Blames (בלמס), the chareidi representative who supported the conclusions and has already removed his signature. According to the report by ‘Hadashot’ News on Wednesday evening 16 Sivan, HaGaon HaRav Chaim Druckman Shlita is now weighing withdrawing his support too based on the actions of the rabbonim mentioned.

In the framework of the committee headed by Nissim, the latter requested the support of public figures from the general population, including the former Chief Rabbi of Ramat Gan and one of the prominent dati leumi rabbonim, Rabbi Yaakov Ariel. Rabbi Ariel conditioned his consent on the fact that the Chief Rabbinate would lead the way of state conversion, but a legal expert who met the rav showed him that this was not the case and the Rabbinate had no authority to do so. The rabbi said, “I was duped” and he withdrew his support.

Persons close to Rabbi Ariel explained the rav was told the new arrangement would remain under Chief Rabbinate control exclusively, and when he learned this was not so, he withdrew his support.

What has also been learned is that non-Orthodox representatives have taken control of the committee, as eleven representatives represent two from the Chief Rabbinate of Israel, and the overwhelming remainder from non-religious streams of Judaism.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)