While the first official meeting of his new coalition is expected to take place next week in Yerushalayim, with both Degel Hatorah and Shas about to sign a coalition agreement, Agudas Yisrael does not appear to be making progress towards signing any agreement with Mayor Moshe Leon. According to officials in Agudah, talks have broken down completely.

In fact, on Thursday, both the Agudah-affiliated Hamodia and Shlomei Emunim-affiliated HaMevaser newspapers speak of the first issue with maintaining the religious status quo in the city.

Councilman Yochanan Weizman, a Gerre Chossid, who led support for Ofer Berkowitz during the runoff elections, called on Deputy Minister Yaakov Litzman, who is also a Gerre Chossid, to take action towards addressing “increasing Chilul Shabbos Kodesh”.

Both papers carry the concerns of “increasing Chilul Shabbos” in Yerushalayim on the front pages, with Weizman explaining this coming Shabbos, two businesses are expected to open despite not being permitted to do so in line with local city ordinance.

As the situation appears currently, Agudas Yisrael may opt to begin life in the new coalition as a member of the opposition.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)