The so-called Norwegian Law permits a cabinet minister to resign as a Member of Knesset to permit the next person on the party’s list to enter Knesset. This is because a cabinet minister does not have to be one of the 120 MKs.

The Knesset recently passed the law to permit it to be used in the 20th Knesset. It is explained that since the coalition only has a one-seat majority, the coalition members are overburdened with committees and other tasks and bringing in additional MKs will assist in the distribution of tasks towards increased efficiency. The law was passed, albeit a modified version which also permits a deputy minister to resign to permit another to enter Knesset. This was done to accommodate the Degel Hatorah faction of Yahadut Hatorah, to permit Yaakov Asher to enter Knesset. For this to happen, Deputy Health Minister Yaakov Litzman or Deputy Education Minister Meir Porush would have to resign as a Member of Knesset. Litzman has announced from the get-go that he will do no such thing. Porush has been evasive.

One is reminded that Porush and Litzman are from the chassidish Agudas Yisrael faction of Yahadut Hatorah, not like Asher who is aligned with the litvish Degel faction.

The cameras caught up with Porush during a visit in Bnei Brak. He commented on how wonderful it is to see the city preparing for Rosh Hashanah. He mentioned the harsh conditions for many talmidim yet in Bnei Brak, “there is mesirus nefesh” he explained.

Porush was asked to comment on the effort to bring Asher into Knesset. He explained “the Knesset is on summer break. Who talks about Knesset now? We are talking about Rosh Hashanah. Today we blew shofar”, remaining evasive on the matter.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)