According to all reports from the ongoing coalition talks, the harmony that prevailed between Bayit Yehudi leader Naftali Bennett and Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid a short time ago is a thing of the past. In actuality, tempers are flaring among some members of the parties as they vie for the same cabinet appointments, deputy appointments and other positions of power.
At present, negotiations are focused on the chairmanship of the powerful Knesset Finance Committee, as well as Yair Lapid’s insistence that the Education Ministry should go to his party. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has called that demand a non-starter, but it appears Lapid is calling the prime minister’s bluff as the 14-day mandate timer counts down, expiring on motzei Shabbos 5 Nissan 5573.
In addition, while it does not seem to be compelling a change in hashkafa, at least not outwardly, Bennett is under increasing pressure as additional dati leumi affiliated rabbonim are deciding to publicly critique him and his decision to align with Yesh Atid at the expense of the chareidim. Prominent dati leumi rabbonim have come out against Bennett’s actions, expressing their fear and disapproval of the blanket boycott on chareidim, seeking to highlight the need to preserve the yeshivos and not harm the lomdei Torah.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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4 Responses
Boruch H-shem! Keep Davening
1. If Likud (with its own religious factions) is a better supporter of Torah than Bayit Yehudi, who needs Bayit Yehudi.
2. For the last 35 years Israel has been dominated by the “right” consisting of religious and nationalist parties. By more or less kicking the Hareidim out of the “Right” it means you’ll have a close to even split between the Right (current represented by Likud, Yesh Atid, Yisrael Beiteinu and Bayit Yehudi) and a new left (consisting of Labor, the Arab parties, and the Hareidim). Reviving the moribund left side of the Israeli spectrum is not something Bayit Yehudi anticipated.
3. It would make more sense for Likud and Bayit Yehudi to focus on incentives for Hareidim to join the army (consistent accomodation of halacha in all units, stipends to veterans, hareidi hesder programs, etc.) rather than talk about punishing yeshiva students. Their complaints about yeshiva student not entering the mainstream economy could be met by allowing them to do so. Indeed ending conscription would serious reduce the population of yeshiva students (and while Israelis will always be frummer than diaspora, most people will get jobs soon after they get married just as they do in the rest of the world).
R’ Chaim Brisker Proclaimed about 100 Years ago
That the “Religious” Zionists will be the leaders against yiddishkeit”
How Prophetic !
Davka now, the Chareidim should NOT join the coalition. Their best chance is by going to re’election. As predicted, the fighting between Bennett & Piron/Lapid will only intensify. Stand out of the way and let them shecht each other! Bennett/Piron/Lapid will disappear from the political scene as if they never existed (Kitzeil Oveir)! With the new elections, the Chareidim will emerge much stronger than ever before! Deri will probably break away but I think the Tzibur is tired of his shenanigans already & will have no effect at all.