After a coalition negotiating meeting on Sunday evening, which lasted for some two hours, the results are disappointing for the chareidim.

According to a BeChadrei Chareidim report, the housing portfolio, which was on the Yahadut Hatorah wish list, will not be given to the party. It remains to be seen if the portfolio will remain with Likud or given to another party.

Yahadut Hatorah has made it clear that they have not yet begun to deal with the issue of the portfolios, and that it will only come up in the talks with the Likud after all the religious issues, especially the issue of bnei yeshivos are clarified. But it is not yet clear whether they will insist on the portfolio mentioned or whether they will accept another, or perhaps, a senior Knesset committee.

Yahadut Hatorah responded to the report in BeChadrei Chareidim and said that the demand for the housing portfolio is an integral part of the faction’s demands, and that they are expected to insist on receiving it.

As mentioned, the negotiating teams of the chareidim; Shas and Yahadut Hatorah parties met Sunday with members of the Likud negotiating team, headed by Minister Yariv Levin.

BeChadrei reports also learning that Shas also raised the demand for housing, along with a similar demand from the United Right-Wing and Kulanu parties.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)