Minister of Agriculture Uri Ariel heads the Ichud Leumi faction in the Bayit Yehudi party. Ariel on Sunday announced “we are not in your pocket”, in his comments directed at Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, sending a clear message that until the matter of the Amona expulsion is resolved, his faction will not back the state budget.

Ariel made his comments to a conference of Ichud Leumi, warning without a solution to the scheduled expulsion of residents from Amona, there would be justification to create a coalition crisis. Ariel made it clear, that Amona would be the straw that breaks the coalition’s back and if legislation is not set into place to circumvent the High Court of Justice eviction order, the coalition would pay the price. He added that his support for the state budget will be contingent to resolving the Amona matter.

Ariel also addressed the so-called two-state solution, adding Israel would remain the only sovereign authority between the Mediterranean and the Jordan River, rejecting any attempt to back the establishment of the State of Palestine. He clarified that his remarks should not be perceived as a threat, clarifying these are the issues that the party’s voters voted for them and they will stand firm as promised to voters.

He promised to continue fighting for the Kosel, Shabbos and the right of Jews to visit Har Habayis, citing all of these are central to Am Yisrael.

Gedolei Yisrael over the generations and the Chief Rabbinate of Israel prohibit visiting Har Habayis

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)