Shas’ Aryeh Deri is quoted telling faction members the party’s Moetzas Gedolei Torah will not permit entering the coalition if the Kandel share the burden plan is adopted. This refers to the plan formulated by Prof. Eugene Kandel, a plan that includes leveling sanctions for non-compliance with new draft regulations against mosdos that do not permit talmidim to enter the IDF such as canceling tax-exempt status for donations and eliminating reductions in arnona property tax.

The plan will also compel mosdos to install a biometric reader to compel talmidim to sign in and out daily, permitting authorities to monitor who is really learning and who is just avoiding IDF service.

Kandel’s plan calls for granting additional benefits for yeshivos in which talmidim comply with the new law, which means if the biometric reader shows talmidim are learning as they should, or alternatively, those not learning are reporting to an induction center.

It will be interesting to see what Yahadut Hatorah will do, as the latter stated it has a mutual agreement with Shas by which they only enter the coalition with the other, and not independent of the other.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)