The faction members of the Yahadut Hatorah party, Degel Hatorah and Agudas Yisrael, met on Monday, 27 Cheshvan to discuss budgeting for mosdos. Joining the meeting were principals of girl’s high schools.

The decision was made to include both factions in the meeting to address all the various mosdos in the different streams of the chareidi community.

While Degel representatives reportedly indicated the joint meeting was a one-time occurrence, Agudas Yisrael faction members stated they are optimistic this was a breakthrough towards additional joint meetings in the future towards improving relations between the factions.

Degel representatives in recent months have been boycotting meetings in an act of protest as the two factions seem to be growing further apart from one another. This is due in no small part to Agudas Yisrael’s refusal to date to have Meir Porush resign from Knesset and remain as the nation’s deputy education minister, which would open a door to permit Yaakov Asher to enter Knesset. Agudah on the other hand want more control of Chinuch Atzmai, which Degel is unwilling to yield.

In other Yahadut Hatorah news, the party is signaling that if the chareidi draft bill is not amended by next week as was promised in coalition agreements, the party will not back the state budget.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)