Sources in Yahadut Hatorah on Tuesday morning 19 Adar expressed hope regarding the coalition crisis surrounding the draft law. According to a Kikar Shabbos News report, the sources speak of slight progress, citing the difficulty comes from Deputy Health Minister Yaakov Litzman.

While on a state visit to Washington and meeting with US President Donald Trump, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has stated he is hopeful and confident that a solution would be reached regarding the draft law, that would permit the coalition government to serve its full tenure, until November 2019.

The prime minister has reportedly spoken with his coalition chairman several times since arriving in Washington, and aide Yoav Hurwitz is conducting a dialogue towards reaching agreement with involved parties. However, despite Litzman’s insistence that the draft law is resolved prior to voting on the state budget, Mr. Netanyahu continues to signal this is not likely, seemingly trying to bring Litzman around to a reality check. Litzman however, at least to the media, continues to insist there will not be any compromise and the draft law will have to be passed prior to voting on the budget or the coalition will fall and early elections will result.

Yisrael Hayom reports that Degel Hatorah and Shas will be satisfied with the draft law passing its preliminary reading before addressing the state budget, but Litzman insists this will not do for him.

Kikar Shabbos adds that the Degel Hatorah faction members plan to meet with rabbonim on its Moetzas Gedolei Yisrael to seek their advice and instruction as how to act on the draft law.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)