MK Moshe Gafne, the chairman of Degel Hatorah, has spoken out and cited concerns pertaining to ongoing efforts to form a coalition government. Gafne stated that there would be no compromise on matters of religion regarding the possibility of establishing a right-wing coalition including Avigdor Lieberman, the chairman of the Yisrael Beitenu party.

Gafne on Sunday morning reiterated the chareidim will not be willing to compromise in order to form a coalition government with Lieberman in light of statements made by various persons. “I am informing all that there will be no compromise on religious and principled issues for us.”

As the left and right-wing try to extricate themselves from the political stalemate, one suggestion is working to persuade Lieberman to come back to the right-wing, his former home, prompting Gafne to speak out.

The Chairwoman of the New Right party, MK Ayelet Shaked, announced that she sees two possibilities:
(1) the formation of a right-wing government including Likud and Blue and White,

(2) the formation of a right-wing government including the Yisrael Beitenu party. This would compel the chareidim to compromise, as Lieberman has announced he would not enter into a coalition with the chareidim.

Another possibility being raised is that the chareidim would permit Lieberman to pass certain laws with support of the opposition, without the chareidim having to support the objectionable legislation. However, Gafne’s declaration on Sunday morning seems to have eliminated such a possibility.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)