Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu at the weekly cabinet meeting on Sunday, 4 Tammuz, began discussions on the new IDF draft law. The Prime Minister requested that his ministers do not speak about it too much, adding that he has began dealing with the bill on motzei Shabbos.

Mr. Netanyahu will also raise the matter in a meeting with coalition faction heads. Absent from the weekly cabinet meeting were Deputy Minister Yaakov Litzman, for health reasons, and Shas chairman Minister Aryeh Deri, who is on private vacation. Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein announced, “I spoke with Deputy Minister Litzman this morning. There is no reason for panic. He is not dying just not feeling well. I wish him a refuah and a quick return to his activities”.

All chareidi factions, Shas, Degel Hatorah and Agudas Yisrael have all announced it will depend on the decision of the three Moetzas Gedolei HaTorah (Degel, Shas, and Agudah / Admorim). The Moetzes of Agudas Yisrael already announced last week that if the government moves ahead on the draft law without including the chareidim, and the law is not acceptable, they will break from the coalition.

During a Sunday morning, 4 Tammuz meeting between Degel faction chairman Moshe Gafne and HaGaon HaRav Chaim Kanievsky Shlita, the Gadol Hador is quoted saying it is night time to break the coalition but to continue efforts towards understanding.

In Shas, the party too will rely on the decision by its Torah Council. For the time being however, party chairman Minister Aryeh Deri appears to be in support of the new law, aware that some changes will have to be made.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)