HaRav Chaim Druckman, viewed as a leading posek for the dati leumi community in Israel and spiritual advisor to the Bayit Yehudi party, announced that the demands being made by the party in ongoing coalition talks are non-negotiable.

Bayit Yehudi party Chairman MK Rabbi Rafi Peretz and the number two man, MK Betzalel Smotrich, have informed coalition negotiators that they insist on receiving the justice and education portfolios in the incoming coalition. However, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has indicated that while he is willing to give the party the education portfolio, it will not receive the justice portfolio.

Rav Druckman announced during a radio interview that, “Without the justice and education portfolios, there will not be a government. What is this? A party with four seats can receive the Finance Ministry and Bayit Yehudi nothing? Even if they are offering the Public Security Minister – we will not enter [the coalition]! Bayit Yehudi is the good boy and therefore, they spit in their faces.”

Regarding the party with four mandates that received the finance portfolio, Rav Druckman is referring to the Kulanu party.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)