Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu personally phoned the veteran chassidishe lawmaker MK Meir Porush to inquire about his health, as Porush continues a partial hunger strike protesting the government�s actions against bnei Torah in the matter of giyus.

Late last week, Porush moved his office activities to a protest tent outside the Justice Ministry, declaring that he would forgo food for nine hours each day as part of his demonstration. The move comes in response to the government�s recent stepped-up enforcement of draft orders against bochurim, which has already led to the arrest of several yeshivah bochurim.

UTJ last month left Netanyahu�s coalition in protest over the lack of progress on legislation to formally exempt lomdei Torah from army or national service.

According to Kan, during Sunday�s cabinet meeting Netanyahu asked ministers why Porush had begun his hunger strike. Communications Minister Shlomo Karchi replied that it was because Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara �is persecuting Torah learners� and �abusing the olam haTorah.�

Karchi � a vocal advocate for removing the attorney general from office � visited Porush yesterday, telling him that Baharav-Miara�s actions are intended �to cause disagreement between us,� and not out of any genuine interest in enlistment. �She is trying to harm Torah learning,� Karchi reportedly said, adding, �and I am certain that we will overcome these attempts.�

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)