MK (Yahadut Hatorah) Moshe Gafne on Monday, 4 Menachem Av, met with opposition leader MK Yitzchak Herzog. The meeting comes in the wake of a growing controversy between Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Yahadut Hatorah. The prime minister explains he must cut funding promised in the coalition agreement and the chareidi representatives are playing hard ball.
The Moetzas Gedolei Yisrael of Agudas Yisrael convened on Monday, 4 Menachem Av as the admorim will have to decide how to instruct its Knesset representatives to respond to calls to accept significant budget cuts.
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu explained to all coalition faction members that Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon has informed him that an across-the-board budget cut is required. PM Netanyahu explained this applies to all coalition partners.
In the case of the Yahadut Hatorah, it will mean a cut in monthly child allowance payments and funds earmarked for yeshivos and other mosdos. The response given to PM Netanyahu by Yaakov Litzman and Moshe Gafne to date has been a resounding “no”, signaling they expect everything promised in the coalition agreement. However, it is becoming increasingly clear to the chareidi MKs that the cuts are necessary, leading to an urgent motzei Shabbos meeting in the Prime Minister’s Office between Mr. Netanyahu, Litzman and Gafne.
While it is reported Gafne asked Herzog for opposition support for his appointment to the committee that appoints dayanim. The coalition appears to be behind Yisrael Eichler of Agudas Yisrael and with only one available chareidi slot, Gafne wants the post.
In addition, the meeting with the opposition leader at this time may send a threatening message to the prime minister. If the cuts are made despite Yahadut Hatorah’s opposition, perhaps the chareidi party will seek to establish an alternative coalition with Herzog.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
2 Responses
So Gafne met with Herzog. Big deal, it is all politics. The left hate Torah and its adherents far more than the right. Ask any right winger in the street what he thinks of Torah prohibited toevah relationships and he will spit. Ask a left winger and he will tell you how we have to move with the times and waffle on about free choice, democracy and respect for others and their lifestyles, so what makes Gafne think he will get more out of Herzog than he is getting from Netanyahu? If cuts are genuinely needed across the board why should the haredi sector be exempt? This sort of attitude is what makes so many Israelis hate haredim who are seen as just money grabbers looking out only for themselves.
I hope it’s just posturing. While Netanyahu leaves lots to be desired, Herzog is a total disaster. Most of his positions are so anti-Torah that should Chareidim get in bed with them, it would demonstrate how morally bankrupt they are.