Has the deal to cooperate with one another between the chareidim and Arab lawmakers come to an end?

On Tuesday morning, 5 Menachem Av, the committee formulating the Nationality Law convened for a final discussion. On Tuesday evening, the Knesset plenum is expected to be addressed in the Knesset plenum for a final vote. The vote will require a majority of 61, including the chareidi lawmakers, as it will become a part of the Basic Law so a majority of the 120-seat Knesset is required, not a simple majority of those present for the vote.

At the center of the discussion on Tuesday morning was the reservations of the Arab MKs, who wished to introduce a clause that would provide a special status for the Arabic language, as currently exists in the law. The current draft mentions Hebrew as the national language, removing the special status of Arabic that has been in place for years. The Arab lawmakers were expecting chareidi cooperation towards having the clause added to the law before it is voted upon. However, the Arab MKs were disappointed because that support never came.

Committee members Uri Maklev and Yoav Ben-Tzur, from Yahadut Hatorah and Shas respectively, were opposed to their initiative. It may signal the mutual understanding to back one another between chareidim and the Arab parties may have ended. They have worked together recently regarding sensitive laws; such as the Muezzin Law, the draft law and the supermarket law dealing with opening grocery stores on Shabbos. The Arab lawmakers have been good to their word to date, but now, with chareidi opposition, all this may change in the future.

MK Ahmad Tibi documents that MKs Maklev and Ben-Tzur opposed their effort and wrote “it was disappointing”.

Tibi spoke with Chadrei Chareidim, explaining, “The chareidim voted against the Arabic language and in favor of the Nationality Law. This is in no less than frightening”, adding “it was a real blow” as he referred to the agreement with the chareidi parties.

MK Tibi told Finance Committee Chairman MK Gafne, “Today it is [the bill] on the agenda of the Knesset Constitution, Law & Justice Committee. MK Vaknin also referred to the matter at the time and said, “cut my hand off but I won’t vote for it”.

MK Gafne responded to Tibi, and in effect confirmed for the first time the secret deal between the two. To date, Gafne has not confirmed reports that an understanding was reached between him and Tibi.

“We agreed that this law will not continue. It passed its preliminary vote and that was the agreement between us.

“After I spoke with MK Tibi spoke, I think this law should not continue. I spoke with the chairman of the coalition and presented our proposal, which is the position of Yahadut Hatorah and Shas.

“It is a law that upsets and does not do anything. There is a law to prevent noise that can address the issue if police do not employ the means to stop the noise. If this is passed into law, it will be used exclusively against chareidim, and I do not think this has any practical benefit”, Gafne stated.

Gafne added that he spoke with the chairman of the Constitution Committee, and even if there is a discussion, there will not be a vote.

In addition, MK Gafne pledged that he would also insist on the Nationality Law not to being passed. However, PM Netanyahu recently warned the chareidim that if they do not vote to pass the bill into law, he will head to early elections. The chareidim appeared to back down in response, but now, Gafne is sending a different message.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)