Minister (Bayit Yehudi) Uri Ariel met with HaGaon HaRav Meir Mazuz Shlita, Rosh Yeshivas Kisei Rachamim. Rav Mazuz backed Eli Yishai’s part in the last elections. This was not the first meeting between two, but this time Ariel met with the rav alone.

Ariel met last Thursday, 23 Adar-I, a meeting which lasted about a half hour. Also present was Yachad party leader Eli Yishai. Either side did not release information about the meeting but it is assumed to be connected to the egalitarian prayer area near the Kosel and the opposition to it.

Ariel voted against the plan during the cabinet vote to allocate the egalitarian area, speaking out against it from the onset while other members of Bayit Yehudi including party leader Naftali Bennett back the plan.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)