Deputy Health Minister (Yahadut Hatorah) Yaakov Litzman has responded to a column written by MK (Blue & White) Yair Lapid, with BeChadrei Chareidim News carrying his response. Litzman begins by calling on Lapid to first undo all the damage he did, referring to Lapid’s actions in the 19th Knesset, when his party was a member of the coalition which passed laws against the chareidi tzibur.

At an Agudas Yisrael kenos held this week, Litzman stated, “The opposition, including the tzaddikim as it were, do not love us. I heard an address by former IDF Chief of Staff [MK/Blue & White] Gabi Ashkenazi who also does not care for us, speaking against us, and there are others in the Blue & White party who do not love us based on what Lapid said, referring to an interview with Lapid and Michael Biton of BeChadrei.

Litzman continued, “Lapid wants us to think for five minutes, this is what he suggested we do. He caused us great harm during the two years he passed all the laws against us…first undo all the damage against us and then we can think about you”.

Lapid’s column was entitled “take a five-minute break from hating me”, in which he emphasizes he does not have any problem with the Torah world and he wishes to live in a Jewish country, party of which constitutes limud Torah. “The yeshiva world is a fine thing in my eyes, and I accept the concept that a selected group of geniuses (ilui) will continue learning at the state’s expense. If there is a young man who is a gaon in Torah, it would be unfortunate to miss the opportunity, but this is a small number of people” he adds.

Lapid continues, “My argument with the chareidi politicians is that there are tens of thousands of additional talmidim. They are saying these are the ones I wish to remove from yeshivos, but I say if they wish to continue learning, do so at your own expense”.

Litzman has been an audible voice against Lapid since the passing of those laws in the 19th Knesset, and he and his colleagues have now announced that they would not enter into any coalition that includes Lapid.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)