The government is working in earnest to advance the new draft law, one which is viewed as problematic at best by chareidi lawmakers, but amid this realization, some feel it is the best of the available evil considering current realities.

BeChadrei Chareidim reports that last week, HaGaon HaRav Baruch Solovechik met with Deputy Health Minister Yaakov Litzman, with the latter being the Gerrer Rebbe’s representative in Knesset. They were trying to coordinate positions between the factions ahead of the final decision on the draft law.

Prior to that meeting, Rav Solovechik met with MKs Moshe Gafne, Uri Maklev and Yaakov Asher of the Degel Hatorah faction of Yahadut Hatorah. Also present for the meeting was Dovid Shapiro, who is close to HaGaon HaRav Gershon Edelstein and attorney Menachem Havlin, who is close to HaGaon HaRav Chaim Kanievsky. They discussed the law being proposed as well as the changes they wish to see implemented.

According to the BeChadrei report, the rav was meeting with the chareidi elected officials in the capacity of being a shaliach of Gedolei Yisrael, seeking to have all the chareidim on board and presenting the same position to the Prime Minister instead of showing division and disunity.

PM Netanyahu continues meeting with chareidi representatives as he is anxious to move the bill ahead and pass it into law before the end of the current session in less than two weeks in order to comply with the High Court of Justice instruction to pass a new law.

While the chareidim are apprehensive regarding this law, they are also aware that failure to pass a law will once again involve the High Court and that outcome may be more devastating. In addition, while this law was backed by the coalition and the Yesh Atid opposition party, it is not likely they will show the same support to a bill amended in line with chareidi demands. An amended law passed in Knesset would in all likelihood be brought before the High Court by challengers, and the court may once again invalidate the law as it did in the past.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)