MK Moshe Gafne of Yahadut Hatorah told Haaretz readers that chareidi women are uninterested in running for a spot in Knesset. Gafne agreed to a chat interview with Haaretz online. He was asked questions by visitors to the website.

Regarding questions pertaining to Yesh Atid party leader, the chareidi MK released harsh criticism against Lapid for damaging the nation’s economy as he did. He stated the economy has been compromised and Israel credit rating has dropped while factories in Israel have closed; all due to the former finance minister’s mishandling of the economy.

When asked about the possibility of Yahadut Hatorah going with a left-wing coalition, Gafne stated there would have to be a very unique situation for as a rule, gedolei yisrael have not instructed them to go with the left in the past.

Regarding Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu Gafne stated he is not forgiven and what direction the party will take will be decided upon following elections. “The decision making process will not be easy. The MKs elected will gather following elections, and I hope we will have at least eight, and the matter will be discussed and we will present our opinion to the gedolim to make a decision”.

When asked to comment on the struggle of chareidi women seeking to enter Knesset, he stated there is no party of chareidi women running independently to enter politics. Gafne feels if Yahadut Hatorah would insert women in the lineup the chareidi women would not support the party for by and large they are opposed to this. He stated the women are on a higher level for the most part and would object to women being included on the party ticket for Knesset.

“I have spoken with chareidi women and the matter is not relevant. It sounds good, a revolution in the chareidi tzibur but they are not in agreement. The women who are speaking out do not represent anyone and they cannot be on the list.

“The chareidi tzibur does not send its best to Knesset for they become roshei yeshivos, admorim and rabbonim…”

When asked about PM Netanyahu’s planned address before the US Congress, Gafne added ‘We have a big chessed from HKBH that America is such a good friend of Israel, and therefore, even I who likes to speak, would pass on the address before Congress”.

He was asked to comment on the Bnei Torah party protests against the arrests of talmidim who did not report to draft centers. Gafne stated “My children and grandchildren are not there. There are in yeshiva. One should ask those taking part in the protest. I do not think more has to be said”.

Regarding the position of finance minister, he added that if the option is him or Yair Lapid again, he would take the past. “I do not think the same mistake will be made again, public suicide. In my opinion, the finance minister must be from the ruling party”.

“Bayit Yehudi is the most sectoral party in Israel. It took advantage of the finance minister who understood nothing and grabbed the money for themselves and hurt everyone else. I am strongly opposed to coalition funding and I will do everything I can to eliminate this. If something is entitled, then it should appear in the state budget and not dependent on one thing or another”.

When asked about the so-called working chareidim he stated “there is no such thing as a studying or working chareidi. A chareidi is one who educates one’s children to follow Torah and Mitzvos. Some study all day, the elite among the chareidi tzibur and Jewish People and there are chareidim who educate their children as required and they wish to live a life of earning a respectable livelihood and this is chareidi too”.

He added there are elements trying to create a new entity when this is not so. A person is chareidi based on lifestyle and education for the family and it is not related to one working or involved in full time limud.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)