The latest bill sponsored by MK (The Movement) Elazar Stern calls for only electing one chief rabbi for cities around Israel instead of a Sephardi and Ashkenazi rabbi, as is the case today. The bill was approved by the Ministerial Legislative Committee but Bayit Yehudi opposed it.

Housing Minister Uri Ariel explained his party is not in favor of the bill and he plans to file an appeal against the vote in an effort to stop the bill from advancing. Bayit Yehudi officials including Deputy Minister of Religious Services Rabbi Eli Ben-Dahan explain that will not back the bill and in fact, if required, the party will use its veto power to prevent it from passing into law.

MK Meir Porush uses his HaMevaser newspaper to lash out against the bill, calling it another “anti-religious” bill being promoted by the current administration. HaMevaser questions why efforts are not made to curtail government waste and spending in ministries where there are many repeated services, pointing out for Stern and his supporters it is not about saving money but about attacking the religious way of life.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)