There was a storm in Knesset after coalition members learned Shas leader Minister Aryeh Deri has secretly told Arab lawmakers he was not going to back the Muezzin Bill initiated by coalition members.
Health Minister Yaakov Litzman objected to the bill at first, explaining he fears it would lead to calls to silence the erev Shabbos sirens heard around the country. Shas leader Deri expressed the same concerns. Once assured this was not the case, Litzman agreed to support the bill while Deri did not. It was since learned that Deri promised the Arabs he would not back the bill and when this became known on Wednesday, 29 Cheshvan, Deri came under fire from members of the coalition.
When confronted, Deri insisted that reports of a deal with the Arabs against the bill are not based in fact. He insists there is no such promise made by him to oppose the bill. He was asked to issue a statement that there was no deal and he did just that. He went as far as to announce Shas is a coalition member and would back bills approved by the Ministerial Law Committee, including the Muezzin Bill.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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One Response
This article is a mistake. The headline reads “Deri Promised Arab Lawmakers To Oppose Muezzin Bill”. Then, by the time we’ve gotten to the end of it, we realize that it was only a rumour and that he did not oppose the bill or promise anyone anything. I think that whomever composed this article should do better at making the headline fit the article.