Tensions have been increasing between Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid as the latter has been pushing cuts in funding to yeshivos and other issues that are objectionable to the dati leumi Bayit Yehudi party. The two met earlier this week and according to Maariv, basing the report on “persons in the loop regarding that meeting”, the two have agreed to rebuild the strong working connection that existed when the coalition was forming.
The report explains they both realize that if they cannot reach agreement, one or both parties may find themselves in opposition while and opposition party may take their place, hence the willingness to agree. Bennett is quoted as saying they agree on 70% of the issues in any event.
One of the areas in which there is agreement is ongoing efforts to draft chareidim into the IDF and Bennett and Lapid agreed to focus on moving this piece of legislation along at a brisk pace. The two agreed that if they do not focus on pushing the bill along it may be lost.
Another legislative matter discussed during the late night meeting was Lapid’s Civil Marriage Bill, with the two realizing even here there are many aspects of the bill upon which they agree as is the case with other matters of religion and state.
While Bennett continues courting his dear friend Yair Lapid, Bayit Yehudi Minister Uri Ariel and MK Yoni Chetboun both expressed outrage over the Civil Marriage Bill, vowing to do everything they can to torpedo it. Unlike Bennett, they openly state the bill is an affront to the Jewish character of the state.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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5 Responses
these 2 reshaim will .not last
The Midrash in Parshat Balak says: Midian and Moav were long time enemies, but for the purpose of fighting against the Jews they pardoned their animosity, like two dogs who would stop fighting if a wolf would approach uniting in a fight against him.
This Midrash is perfectly suited for Lapid and Bennett the 2 dogs.
Bennett & Lapid are two peas in a pod. Both are married to chiloni wives and both hate Torah Jewry.
rashi says in parshas korach “oy l’ra oy l’shcheino” while lapid is sinking in the polls (pun intended) bennett should get out while he still can (he probably won’t though)
The local elections suggest their position is strong. Jerusalem elected a hiloni mayor on a platform of limiting the hareidim. While Shas, Agudah and Degel ha-Torah sometimes sound defiant, they are still clearly devoted to receiving patronage from the medinah, and as long as they are, the anti-Torah alliance will have a clear path.