Realizing they are head-to-head again on the issue of the draft law, talks have already begun between Yisrael Beitenu party chairman, MK Avigdor Lieberman and leaders of Yahadut Hatorah, as the two parties will have to find a solution to exist in the same coalition government.
According to the report, associates of Prime Minister Netanyahu asked Avigdor Lieberman on Tuesday, as the two met, not to escalate the offensive against the chareidim. Lieberman accepted the request.
According to the spokespersons of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, in a meeting between Lieberman and Netanyahu on Tuesday, the two men spoke in a relaxed atmosphere and touched on issues of security, religion and state, immigration and absorption.
The Yahadut Hatorah faction convened to discuss the draft law, and it was decided, “One who learns Torah and his limud is declared to be his profession, will be permitted to continue learning without hindrance, and we will insist on this”.
In order to clarify the seriousness of the issue, they informed the heads of the various branches throughout the country “to remain on full alert, and if, chas v’sholom, this issue is not resolved, we have proved that, and we have no problem in new elections again.”
On Tuesday, at the Yisrael Beiteinu party meeting, Lieberman once again presented his demand for a second and third reading of the draft law, noting that the chareidim did not quit the outgoing coalition when they passed the law on first reading.
“We will not give up on a comma or a point, and we will demand that it be passed on in the second and third readings in exactly the same way,” Lieberman insists.
After presenting his demand for defense and absorption portfolios, which he held before resigning from the coalition during the last government, Lieberman made it clear that if in return they would have to give up on the draft law – they were ready to go back to elections again.
(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
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2 Responses
Netanyahu can dump the Chareidim and Lieberman and form a coalition with Gantz and Lapid of Blue & White. Just like Netanyahi did with Lapid in 2013 to 2015.
The only compromise that will satisfy both constituencies would be to abolish conscription, with an agreement that significant pay and benefits will be used to encourage persons to volunteer (including benefits in terms of college admission and financing which will serious annoy the left-wing secular elites who also dislike military service), and also to guarantee an end to discrimination within the military against Shomer Shabbos Jews who do want to serve in the military (whether for ideological reasons, or to get the pay and benefits).