There is a considerable amount of anger and frustration directed at the Bayit Yehudi party after the latter absented itself from the preliminary Knesset vote on the Stern Bill, the bill that seeks to amend the voting body for the election of chief rabbis.

Only three party members were present for the vote, Naftali Bennett, Uri Ariel and Ayelet Shaked. Nine others were not present for the vote. Shaked announced the party has decided to “freeze” its support for the bill for the time being. Shaked blamed the party’s decision on Likud’s involvement, an effort to permit Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to decide who will serve on the voting body. Shaked explained “Netanyahu wants his people on the voting body and we will not permit this to happen.”

MK (Yesh Atid) Dr. Aliza Lavie was furious, stating “I was shocked to learn that davka Bayit Yehudi decided to veto the bill. Prior to the general election the party committed to working to bring religious services to the entire Israeli society. Not only isn’t the party working to accomplish this, it is sabotaging efforts in this direction.”

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)