It would be fair to say that very few people saw this coming but the deal cut by newly-elected Kadima leader MK Shaul Mofaz was nothing less than brilliant considering the polls showed he did not have a chance to unseat Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and that his Kadima party would suffer a blow in general elections. He masterfully secured himself a comfortable senior position in the coalition, saved his party from collapse, and delivered the blow to the chareidi tzibur that he has been working so hard to do.
It was about 02:00 when Likud and Kadima factions held special meetings to discuss what was already a deal reached between the prime minister and Mofaz. As a result of the deal, Kadima, which is currently the leader of the opposition in Knesset will join the coalition, providing the required stability to prevent going to early elections on 17 Elul 5772. Mofaz will be appointed a deputy prime minister with involvement important security and government decisions and there will not be elections.
The key point upon which the deal is hinged in the prime minister’s willingness to accept Kadima’s alternative Tal Law, which simply means chareidim will be compelled to serve in the IDF or an accepted form of national service.
It is too soon to measure the ramifications of the new deal but it is quite possible that the chareidi parties will find themselves in the opposition, unwilling to be part of a government that has sold them out regarding bnei yeshiva receiving a draft deferment as was the case in the past.
Ynet reports that Natan Eshel, the prime minister’s bureau chief has been meeting with Housing Minister (Shas) Atias during recent days, working to persuade him to remain in the coalition. Netanyahu realizes he has a better chance of persuading Shas to remain than Yahadut HaTorah and Shas has enough mandates that together with Kadima, the coalition would have enough support to remain stable.
In the coming days the chareidi MKs will study the new agreement and its ramifications for the chareidi tzibur at large and undoubtedly gedolei yisrael shlita will have to reevaluate the continued presence of Shas and Yahadut HaTorah in the new coalition.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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4 Responses
If the “national service” will be built on the same foundations as some of the other chareidi outreach initiatives – providing learning opportunities, mehadrin food, and job training – this could become a positive move for the tsibbur overall. We must remember that it is up to our leaders, informed gedolim, and not politicians to guide our path.
With the Government no longer needing the chareidim in the coalition, the chareidim stand tolose tremendously.
It would seem reasonable to assume that a major push for this change was anti-chareidi sentiment which was greatly enhanced by the actions of members of the chareidi community.
It is time for the chareidim to pull back (including from the weekly demonstrations on shabbos) or risk a lot more.
This returns to the “status quo ante” as it was before Sharon split Likud, so why should things be any different (except that Livni and Mofaz who used to be wannabees are now has-beens).
The secular politicians, both left and right, consider Chareidi parties to be a pain in the neck, preventing “progress” towards a secular utopia, in which “outdated, reactionary” religious ideas will be completely discarded.
Honest, clear thinking Chareidi leaders have never allowed themselves to be lulled into complacency. The danger os forced assimilation is always present.
This new coalition will be wake-up call to Chareidim. True Torah living always requires Mesiras Nefesh–a willingness to take risks and losses.