The Supreme Court on Tuesday 13 Shevat 5774 instructed Minister of Religious Services Naftali Bennett to respond to respond within 20 days as to why new elections for the Chief Rabbinate Council should not be ordered. The Movement for Fairness in Government is challenging the election, which it insists was “politically tainted by deal making” and therefore, should be disqualified.
The petitioner explains to the Supreme Court that the blatant involvement of Deputy Minister of Religious Services Rabbi Eli Ben-Dahan was unacceptable and the election must be repeated. Attorney Mordechai Eisenberg explains he is working to compel the court to order new elections.
Ben-Dahan became heavily involved and succeeded in reaching a deal between his Bayit Yehudi party and the chareidi parties by which the former council members will be reelected to their positions.
Eisenberg adds that if new elections are held, he will work to have eligible voters informed as to the merits of the candidates so they can cast a ballot based on facts and not deal-making.
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(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem / Photo: Aaron Wahav, Chadashot 24)
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2 Responses
Every election which follows influential advertisements can be questioned according to this petitioner. Nevertheless, if voters are persuaded, they are persuaded. Voters can make their decision based on whatever they want. It is frivolous attempt to disqualify an election due to influences the petitioner disagrees with. Politics is all about deal making. Is this council a political body or a court!! Israeli politics is rife with a history of the minority dictating to the majority. Eisenberg is attempting another example.
Nu, so a petition was filed. Happens all the time. What leads YWN to believe that this particular petition is likely to succeed (and without even waiting to see the State’s response)?