It is no secret that there is no love affair between the factions that comprise the Yahadut Hatorah party in Knesset; the litvish Degel Hatorah party and chassidish Agudas Yisrael. At present, the chassidim hold four of the party’s combined six seats. They appear to ‘tolerate’ one another for the good of the chareidi tzibur at large, albeit, of late there are visible cracks in the seams of their agreement.

The latest argument is between Yisrael Eichler (chassidish) and Moshe Gafne (litvish) over the appointment to the committee that selects the nation’s judges and dayanim. While Gafne insists he is going to fill the slot, Eichler insists he should get the position as per the agreement between the parties. In the eyes of the general non-chareidi public, this is not newsworthy since they view it as a position that will be held by ‘chareidim’, without the distinction between litvish and chassidish. However the matter is one that is given prominence in the chareidi media.

The next and perhaps more significant argument on the table is the matter of the Knesset accepting what is called the ‘Norwegian Law’. If the law is adopted by Knesset, as it has been on occasion in the past, it will permit cabinet and deputy cabinet ministers to resign from Knesset and thereby permit the next person on a faction list who did not get into Knesset to get a seat in the 20th Knesset. Bayit Yehudi wishes to use the law to bring Shuli Muallem back into Knesset. With Bayit Yehudi earning only eight seats, she was left out since she was in the ninth slot. Shas leader Aryeh Deri has already announced that if the law is accepted in 20th Knesset he will resign from Knesset to permit Shas’ next man to enter Knesset, Avraham Michaeli.

Supporters of implementing the law explain the coalition is small (61) and the government is large, with 21 ministers including the prime minister, and nine deputy ministers. Hence there are 30 ministers and deputies in a coalition of 61. A minister and deputy cannot serve on Knesset committees and lobbies, so there are relatively few Members of Knesset who may serve in these positions and this will compromise the functioning of Knesset. Hence, supporters feel bringing in a few more MKs will increase the number of MKs eligible to serve on these committees. The Kulanu party announces it will bring in Akram Hasson.

This brings us to Yahadut Hatorah. Degel Hatorah (litvish) expects one of the deputy ministers to follow suit to permit Yaakov Asher (litvish) to enter Knesset. The Agudas Yisrael majority (chassidish); Deputy Minister Yaakov Litzman, Deputy Minister Meir Porush, MK Yisrael Eichler and MK Menachem Eliezer Moses have already announced they will vote against the law, with Litzman and Porush unwilling to resign from Knesset to bring Asher in.

It is pointed out that if a minister resigns to permit another to enter Knesset and that person ceases to be a minister, s/he is out of Knesset.

So while Shas, Bayit Yehudi and the Degel faction of Yahadut Hatorah are anxious to pass the law, the Agudas Yisrael faction with its four votes has already announced it will vote against it.

Accepting the Norwegian Law compels amending the Basic Law, demanding at least 61 votes in favor. If the Agudas Yisrael MKs remain firm in their refusal and opposition MKs vote against it, the law cannot pass. Coalition Chairman Tzachi Hanegbi has his work cut out for him. Actually, it is more complicated because the Basic Law compels a deputy minister to be a MK. Yahadut Hatorah (the litvish faction) is demanding to include deputy ministers this time around, determined to bring Yaakov Asher on board. One assumes Gafne believes he will persuade his chassidish colleagues to see his side of this equation. This means the Basic Law must be amended to permit a deputy minister to resign as well.

It is difficult to gage if the law will pass, depending on who one speaks to. What is clear is that the working relationship between the Ashkenazi MKs is deteriorating and it will remain to be seen how this will impact future cooperation between the factions that comprise the Yahadut Hatorah party.

In line with the report, many question how Moshe Gafne, who is a MK, not a minister or deputy minister, has amassed so much power. It should be realized that being chairmen of the Knesset Finance Committee is according to most equal in authority to being a cabinet minister. Gafne controls the nation’s check book and as such, being a seasoned parliamentarian, he is quite skilled in wielding his power to advance his chareidi agenda.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)