MK (Yahadut Hatorah) Moshe Gafne launched an attack against the Knesset Law Committee, targeting first and foremost its chairman, MK (Likud Beitenu) David Rotem, accusing him of being “anti-religious”. Rotem is a member of the dati leumi community.

Gafne became angry after the Knesset committee approved the bill by MK (Bayit Yehudi) Shuli Moalem-Refaeli and MK (Yesh Atid) Dr. Aliza Lavi in a second vote. The MKs were both recently selected to represent the Knesset on the committee which selects the dayanim of the Chief Rabbinate’s batei din. The bill compels that at least one of the representatives of the government, Knesset and Israel Bar Association on the committee must be a woman. The bill also calls to expand the committee from 10 to 11 members, with the new member being a female rabbinical advocate to be selected by the justice minister.

Gafne targeted Rotem, stating “Moshiach will see what is being done here in the committee and he will not come. This committee has become the garbage can of Judaism. All the anti-religious legislation comes to you.”

Gafne continued, leveling harsh criticism against Rotem, adding “you have always been anti-religious. You are a big hero and talk a big talk. Therefore, you cannot be a member of the committee that appoints judges for in that committee strong people are needed. You are competing with Minister Bennett for who can be more liberal.”

MKs Avraham Michaeli (Shas) and Uri Maklev (Yahadut Hatorah) called for the second vote in committee. They joined in with Gafne to condemn the bill sponsored by Moalem-Refaeli and Lavi, stating the true agenda of the bill is to “defy the rabbinical courts and to appoint women to judicial posts in the batei din and not just to serve as members of the selection committee.”

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)