The center-left bloc raised a cry on Monday evening after Channel 12 News leaked a number of details about the emerging coalition deal between UTJ and Likud
The Likud quickly denied the report, saying that the leaked details are a list of demands from UTJ and the Likud has not agreed to them. The party issued a statement saying that “contrary to the Channel 12 News report, the published list is a list of UTJ’s demands and not a deal that the Likud agreed to. For example, the Likud does not agree to banning electricity production on Shabbat, the expansion of segregated beaches and other matters that were raised in the talks. Any final agreement will preserve the status quo that has been customary for years in matters of religion and state.”
On the other hand, the UTJ party blamed the Likud for the leak, claiming that its goal is to force the party’s hand on other issues that are still in dispute.
The report claimed that an agreement on the following 13 clauses has been reached:
1. A representative of the Rabbanut will be part of the committee of work permits for Shabbos.
2. Electricity will not be generated on Shabbos and the government will fund a genizah of Sifrei Kodesh.
3. The government will establish and fund bodies that will answer the public’s halachic questions.
4. The number of separate beaches in the country will be increased.
5. Chareidi cities will benefit from an additional discount on public transportation.
6. The budget for Chareidi culture in the Education Ministry will be at least NIS 100 million.
7. Chareidim will benefit from affirmative action in government agencies.
8. Hospital directors will be able to forbid the entry of chometz on Pesach.
9. Gemara studies will be increased for secular students.
10. Any Israeli citizen who wishes can be buried in the ground and not in the above-ground multi-story kevarim structures.
11. The closure of the newly formed “Reform Wing” in the Diaspora Ministry will be examined.
12. Any government service provided online will also be provided over the phone or in person.
13. The kosher phone reform of the previous government will be canceled.
Outgoing Prime Minister Yair Lapid responded to the report by saying: “The agreement between UTJ and Likud is a shameful surrender agreement. Bibi is weak and is leading us to a halachic state, selling our democracy for his personal interests. If they think we will pay taxes, serve in the army, and finance those who don’t work – and they will tell us how to live, I have news for them – Israel cannot be turned into a dark country.”
(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
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10 Responses
It seems that all the religious and nationalists parties really want to create opportunities for Netanyahu to instead form a coalition with the centrist parties (which largely consists of former Likudniks).
#12 makes a lot of sense
#9 not so much
These are not demands made by the UTJ; they are exaggerated lists deliberately leaked by the Likud negotiators in order to put pressure on UTJ and make them appear unreasonable, precisely because Netanyahu wants to make a dramatic move by calling on Gantz, Lapid, and Lieberman to save the country from these primitives.
Netanyahu would want all of the non-left wing parties to start bidding on joining the government, with the low bidder (least demanding) winning. That is how one builds coalitions in a multi-party parliamentary system.
#9 is absurd to think they even asked for. This clearly outright Chareidi bashing and fearmongering by the Left Anti Chareidim. Afroh Lepumayhu.
netanyahu is a liberal
@Milhouse
Any evidence to back up your wild conspiracy theories?
Whatever halachic issues may or may not exist regarding generation of electricity in Shabbat, you can’t just throw a switch to instantly turn off a coal or nuclear power plant. They don’t work that way. In addition, hospitals need electricity 24/7.
if they really want kosher electricity, why don’t they start their own electricity company, preferably using renewable sources, and become part of the solution, instead of the problem?
why not expand charedi beaches, at present they are tiny, you get packed in there like clams