MKs (Yahadut Hatorah) Yaakov Litzman and Meir Porush on Thursday morning, 28 Sivan 5773 met with President Shimon Peres in the President’s Residence in Yerushalayim.

The MKs asked for the meeting to discuss the government cuts to yeshiva budgets and the planned draft of bnei yeshivos into the IDF. The beginning of the meeting was a press event, providing the media with a photo and audio opportunity.

Mr. Peres began by explaining we are all aware of the serious deficit and the need to cut spending. He spoke of concerns of hundreds of thousands of children joining the ranks of the nation’s poor, adding “a hungry child is a hungry child, regardless of being frum or not, Jewish or Arab, we cannot tolerate hungry children in Israel.”

Litzman began by placing an emphasis on the threat to yeshivos due to harsh budget cuts. He continued by addressing plans to draft bnei yeshivos, expressing the chareidi leaders are opposed to imposing criminal sanctions on bnei yeshivos who fail to comply with the law, pointing out these sanctions were not included in coalition agreements. “We feel those wishing to learn should be permitted to do so” Litzman explained. “Those that do not should do like all the others. We detect a hint of persecution, hate and incitement against the chareidi tzibur. You have the power to prevent this major chasm in the nation.”

Litzman continued, once again addressing cuts to yeshivos, yeshivos like Mir for students from abroad, and cuts in child allowance payments. Litzman explained “they are trying to wipe us out. The cuts to the chareidim are the most severe.”

Porush began by pointing out the chareidim represented 14% of the national vote in the last elections, yet the entire tzibur is in cherem, ignored and boycotted by the coalition. Porush reminded Mr. Peres that the founders of the state stressed it would be a home for all Jews and the state would act respectfully towards rabbis and the chareidi community. He warned that what is about to take place may endanger the role chareidim played in the nation during the past 65 years, adding the monetary decisions are contrary to state policy since its establishment.

The president responded, pointing out that Ben-Gurion signed a document to permit bnei yeshivos to learn, but at the time, it was applicable to a few hundred bnei Torah. “The changes must be implemented through dialogue and discussion and to refrain from incitement…The State of Israel refrains from religious coercion and being anti-religious”, promising to bring their message to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and cabinet ministers with whom he meets.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)