MKs Moshe Gafne and Uri Maklev announced Wednesday that they will not vote with the coalition until Gafne’s Shabbos Bill is advanced. The other chareidi MKs are continuing to vote with the coalition.

Gafne wants to promote a Shabbos law that will also impact Tel Aviv, so that despite the decision of the High Court, supermarkets in Tel Aviv will be closed on Shabbos.

The heads of the other chareidi parties think that the law’s chances of passing are slim because Moshe Kahlon and the entire faction will oppose the law intended to circumvent the High Court of Justice ruling.

The Likud is opposed for fear moving such a bill would bring more support to Yair Lapid and his Yesh Atid party.

As such, PM Netanyahu realized the bill is not a chareidi effort, but Gafne’s along and therefore, his bill was not moved ahead. Gafne decided to retaliate, announcing he will not be taking part in plenum votes. He was followed by Maklev. The third Degel Hatorah MK, Yaakov Asher, did not announce he is following suit.

The resulted in calling PM Netanyahu to the plenum to vote with the coalition to prevent a coalition victory in plenum voting.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)