Health Minister Yaakov Litzman ahead of Rosh Hashanah had words or praise for Naftali Bennet and Bayit Yehudi, calling the alliance between the dati leumi party and the chareidim �mutually beneficial�. Litzman went as far as to call the current working relationship with Bayit Yehudi and the chareidim one of his �major accomplishments� of the year. Litzman is carried in the banner headline of the BaSheva weekly newspaper Rosh Hashanah edition, explaining the alliance is also beneficial for settlements. He is interviewed in-depth in the newspaper.

Litzman praised Bennet�s performance in his capacity as Education Minister, citing the level of cooperation between the parties today is such that he believes Bayit Yehudi will have to be a component in the next chareidi coalition. Litzman did not forget Minister Uri Ariel, who heads the Ichud Leumi faction in the dati leumi party, who was verbal and a steadfast partner in the battle for kedushas Shabbos and other matters of halacha as well as playing a major role in preventing Reform and Conservative Jewry from gaining a foothold in the Kosel area.

(YWN � Israel Desk, Jerusalem)