It was a victory for former Shas leader Eli Yishai as well as an embarrassment for the coalition. Yishai was selected to serve on the committee that appoints the nation’s dayanim despite being a member of an opposition party. Yishai received 80 votes. MK (Bayit Yehudi) Shuli Moalem-Refaeli received 70 votes and was appointed to the committee, but Labor MK Merav Michaeli did not get appointed, receiving only 48 votes.

MK (Yahadut Hatorah) Uri Maklev dropped out of the race to make sure Yishai would receive enough votes, realizing the significance of having a chareidi representative on the committee.

Shas MK Yitzchak Cohen was appointed to another committee, the committee to appoint judges. So for the coalition it was a major disappointment since MK (Bayit Yehudi) Dudi Rotem did not get elected, receiving only 61 votes. In addition, MK (Labor) Yitzchak Herzog was appointed along with Cohen, with the former receiving 78 votes.

In short, it was a difficult and embarrassing day for the coalition.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)