MK (Yahadut HaTorah) Moshe Gafne in his response to the announced recommendations of MK Yochanan Plesner called the report “unprecedented evil”.

Gafne explained that in fact, Plesner’s personal hashkafa is no secret so his recommendations should not come as a surprise to anyone, calling the report “malicious”.

Regarding Plesner’s demand for personal responsibility, accountability and consequences, Gafne demands that this must be implemented against everyone, including university students who don’t serve in the IDF. He also wants the budget allocated for the nation’s higher education of 7 billion NIS cut as well for this he feels will bring true social equality.

Shas leader Eli Yishai feels that Plesner is “politically motivated towards bailing out Kadima”. He feels the fact that so many members of the committee resigned and that the committee was dissolved is testimony to Plesner’s less than genuine agenda.

“Everything done by the committee was motivated by its hate for yiddishkheit and Jewish tradition”.

Housing Minister (Shas) Ariel Atias: Plesner’s pretension to comprehend complicated issues pertaining to the chareidi tzibur has led him to derive at extreme conclusions such as closing 80% of the mosdos within four years. One does not change a system that has been in existence for 60 years in four years.

MK (Yahadut HaTorah) Yisrael Eichler: The recommendations are proof of the committee’s intension from the outset – to wipe out yeshiva budgets and it had nothing to do with sharing the burden.

Anyone who does not wish to see Israel become another Lebanon or Syria must release all citizens from conscription. The only way to bring an end to the war against the chareidim is a gradual elimination of compulsory military service and a fair wage for those soldiers who serve in any capacity.

MK (Yahadut HaTorah) Uri Maklev:

MK Plesner has been waging a persecution and incitement campaign against the chareidim and those who study torah.

The utter obsessive inherent hatred would not shame the biggest haters of Israel, the goyim that leveled the harshest gezeiros against us in past generations. In order to inject its venom, he splits hooves and chews his cud, saying ‘I am pure’ all the while presenting himself as a person with true values, but the snake makes its baseless accusations, distorting data and displaying falsehoods which have no connection with the truth.

We must not forget how Plesner became chair of the committee – not a professional appointment but a political one towards achieving an objective. As one whose hate seeks to prevent the study of torah he began at the outset seeking to delegitimize, to show the mosdos do not comply with their responsibilities, an accusation that was soon after proved incorrect. All of this did not bother Plesner or prevent him from seeking cruel and harsh sanctions against those who study torah towards stealing away their daily bread while mocking them.

There is nothing new with the recommendations. We see the recycling of the subcommittee of the Tal Law – the only one Plesner headed, supporting and encouraging the organizations of haters of religion. From the onset we knew the path being chosen and therefore we opted not to take part in the charade. Anyone who was naïve in the beginning and took part in the committee learned just how cunning Plesner is and opted to resign.

He is driven by hate and is not afraid to lead the nation to polarization and deep separation while serious security, economic and education issues remain at the nation’s doorstep. The committee’s sanctions will not impact us and not influence our actions the slightest. Am Yisrael over the generations has endured many hash gezeiros continued to adhere to the torah and will continue studying torah here as well, with mesirus nefesh. Despite the harsh threats, Am Yisrael will prevail and Israel is alive and grasping our heritage and toras yisrael.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)