MK (Bayit HaYehudi) Rabbi Eli Ben-Dahan in an interview with Kikar Shabbat stated that his party will never agree to public bus service on Shabbos or a civil marriage alternative despite demands made by coalition partner Yesh Atid. Ben-Dahan revealed that in recent days, he has met with a number of undisclosed admorim and roshei yeshiva as he has not given up on bringing chareidim into the coalition.

Earlier in the week it appeared the coalition talks were moving ahead, with announcements of round-the-clock talks towards reaching a deal. It now appears all is not well between Bayit Yehudi and Yesh Atid. For one thing, Yesh Atid on Wednesday called off negotiations with Likud/Beitenu over the issue of a maximum number of ministers. Yair Lapid originally set a ceiling of 18, now willing to go to 20, but Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is looking for 25. Naftali Bennett on the other hand has not made the number of ministers a priority.

More importantly are the demands announced by Yesh Atid, namely Lapid’s insistence on limited Shabbos public bus service and a civil marriage alternative for couples the Chief Rabbinate will not marry. Dahan, a candidate to become Israel’s next minister of religious services, says the issues of civil marriage and Shabbos buses are a non-starter.

Despite the difficulties, Ben-Dahan remains optimistic; adding he hopes the chareidi parties will still join the coalition.

KIKAR:

You prevented chareidim from entering the coalition by insisting your entry into the coalition is dependent on Yesh Atid joining too.

BEN-DAHAN:

Your remarks are not entirely accurate. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is responsible for the current situation. He preferred to establish a centrist/left coalition and leave us outside. We had no alternative but to cooperate with Yesh Atid.

By the way, when Naftali Bennett and Uri Ariel made contact with the chareidi parties during and after the elections, they did not receive a definitive response from the chareidim that they would not enter the coalition without Bayit Yehudi.

KIKAR:

What is your opinion regarding chareidi calls to launch a boycott over good manufactured in yishuvim.

BEN-DAHAN:

It is ridiculous and tasteless. I believe the bond between the chareidim and dati leumi tzibur is stronger than political and I believe this will not occur.

KIKAR:

Will Bayit Yehudi continue with Yesh Atid if the latter remains firm in demands for Shabbos bus service and civil marriage?

BEN-DAHAN:

I am responding from a position of knowing. These issues are a non-starter. Any government that we are a part of will not permit Shabbos public bus service or civil marriage. You can record this in my name.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)