A meeting was held last week between Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and heads of chareidi factions in Knesset in another effort to reach agreement for the new draft bill. It was decided that a team would be established to reword the agreement in the hope of finding a mutually acceptable language. The chareidi representatives have explained they will not vote for the state budget until such time the draft law is passed into law first.

Likud officials report progress on the matter as a result of the meeting but the chareidim do not concur, citing they are unaware of any progress. Minister Yariv Levin is heading the committee working to reword the bill, hoping to find a text that is acceptable to the chareidim and the other coalition partners.

The bill was supposed to be voted upon last week in its preliminary reading, but it was taken off the agenda when it became clear it lacked support as coalition partners Yisrael Beitenu and Kulanu stated they would not back the deal. The chareidi partners warn, their support for the state budget is contingent on passing this, which they insist is covered by their coalition agreements.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)