Yesh Atid is aware that in line with coalition agreements, the Bayit Yehudi party maintains the final word on all state and religion matters, giving the dati leumi party veto power.

As Yesh Atid continues efforts to advance its civil marriage legislation it is aware that for as long as Bayit Yehudi objects, it is a lost cause. Channel 10 News correspondent Nadav Eyal reports that Yesh Atid’s Rabbi Shai Piron is conducting behind the scenes talks with Deputy Minister of Religious Services Rabbi Eli Ben-Dahan to find the correct formula that will enable the dati leumi party to come on board.

Bayit Yehudi leader Naftali Bennett announced earlier in the week that he party will never permit the civil marriage bill to pass into law.

Nadav stated in his report that while it is uncertain how the talks between Piron and Ben-Dahan will end, it is clear that with Bayit Leumi on board a bill has a good chance of being passed into law.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)