There is a storm brewing among leaders of the Bayit Yehudi party, which is the major member of the United Right-Wing party, headed by Rabbi Rafi Peretz. The dispute between Peretz and the number two man on the list, MK Betzalel Smotrich, from the Ichud Leumi faction, surrounding the appointment of Peretz as education minister. Smotrich claims that in line with their agreement, he is to be appointed before Peretz, and it appears the disharmony that exists between them may lead to a split.
Smotrich already received the first blow from Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, on Wednesday, when he appointed Amir Ohana as the minister of justice, a post that was being demanded by Smotrich.
The prime minister was also quick in retorting to statements by Smotrich favoring a state run in line with halacha, delivering another blow to the dati leumi parliamentarian.
Smotrich told Nissim Kedar of BaSheva that “Netanyahu does not respect religious Zionism and it is time to change that. I do not apologize for my statement about the laws of the Torah…”
As a result of the ongoing disagreements between the two party leaders, it was decided on Wednesday night the Bayit Yehudi party’s central committee will convene in two weeks to once again decide the lineup for the upcoming Knesset elections.
The invitation states the central committee will convene on Wednesday, June 19, 2019, at 7:00PM in the Nachalim auditorium.
(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)