It appears that the chareidi boycott of Housing Minister (Bayit Yehudi) Uri Ariel may be over. A meeting took place with Ariel and HaGaon HaRav Moshe Hillel Hirsch of the Degel Hatorah Moetzas Gedolei Hatorah and Rosh Yeshivas Slobodka.

The meeting was held in recent daysin the rav’s home in Bnei Brak. Also taking part in the meeting were HaGaon Rav Yehuda Silman and Yanki Bechler, a prominent PR person. They discussed chareidi community housing needs and the critical housing shortage today.

Chareidi lawmakers have bene boycotting Ariel because he was part of the coalition that has imposed harsh gezeiros on the chareidi tzibur. MK Moshe Gafne did not miss opportunities to attack Ariel for his remaining in the coalition and working with the Yesh Atid party. Gafne accused Ariel of selling the chareidi community down the tubes to promote his own interests.

Ariel listened attentively to the rabbonim. He also told them that he believes elections are not too far in the future.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)