The Israeli government approved the hostage release/ceasefire deal in the early hours of Shabbos morning after over seven hours of deliberation, with 24 voting in favor versus eight opposed.
The meeting was significantly delayed as the meeting of the security cabinet took longer than expected, delaying the Cabinet meeting until after the onset of Shabbos.
In a surprise, Likud members Amichai Chikli and David Amsalem voted against the deal, along with Religious Zionist chairman Betzalel Smotrich and two members of his party, Orit Strock and Ofir Sofer; and Otzma Yehudit chairman Itamar Ben-Gvir and two members of his party, Amichai Eliyahu and Yitzchak Wasserlauf.
Another Likud minister, Shlomo Karhi, was not present during the vote.
The implementation of the deal is expected to begin on Sunday, with Hamas slated to release three female hostages in exchange for 95 terrorists.
The Chareidi ministers, dressed in their Shabbos clothing, arrived at the Prime Minister’s Office shortly before Shabbos, left an “in favor” voting slip, and returned home before Shabbos.
Deputy Minister Uri Maklev requested from the Prime Minister’s Office officials before he left for home: “It is advisable to ensure that there is no unnecessary Chillul Shabbos such as a press conference.”
Housing Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf wrote in a note he left: “Whoever saves one soul of Israel – it is as if he has saved an entire world. I support the hostage release deal that that the government of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is finalizing today. And there is no greater mitzvah than pidyon shevuim.”
(YWN’s Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated after tzeis ha’Shabbos in Israel)
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10 Responses
The Chareidi ministers should have stayed and listened to the debate before voting, even if it went into Shabbos. The decisions being made involved definite Pikuach Nefesh, and the discussion taking place was key to determining if it the agreement should or should not move forward – so by skipping this discussion, the Chareidi ministers put Shabbos ahead of Pikuach Nefesh – contrary to Halacha. I’d expect more from those who claim to be Shomrei Torah uMitzvos.
an Israeli Yid
anIsraeliYid
You piece of garbage Israeli “Yid” always looking for ways to rag on the חרדים ובני תורה instead of realizing you are only alive in their zchus. Genuine piece of trash. And obviously you make zero sense because turning in their votes before even listening to both sides is the biggest proof of how much they value Jewish lives and what to do in a matzav of פיקוח נפש . And it also shows that they care about the holy day of shabbos. Do תשובה sir you don’t wanna be on the wrong side when משיח comes and points with his finger at the חשובע “real” yidden and says “these are the yidden that were מקרב the גאולה”. Then, it’ll be too late….
they asked gedolim. who are you?!
I agree wuth @anIsraeliYid.
The same way that they wrote a note in advance “approving”, they could have prepared a 2nd note stating “not approving”. Ans tgen when the meeting was over, decide which note to submit. This without writing on Shabbos.
@anchuldiks – no, I don’t excuse you, and I have no reason to do Teshuva for calling out hypocrites for their hypocrisy. The point of the discussion was to determine the facts, including the various risks involved in the deal – and their abandoning their responsibility is like a Dayan saying that he does not need to hear all the facts to rule on a She’eila of literal Pikuach Nefesh. Of course I value Jewish lives – that’s why several of my children are currently, as I type this, in Gaza fighting to defend Jewish lives. What’s your skin in the game?
It’s a poor argument that relies on ad hominem attacks on the one you’re disagreeing with – I kept it civil, and it would have behooved you to do so as well. Your describing other Jews as not “real” Yidden is a perfect example of Chareidi society’s lack of what R’ Yonassan Rosenblum described many years ago in an article he wrote as a lack of Klal Yisrael consciousness – i.e., “we Chareidim protect ourselves and our values by separating from other parts of Klal Yisrael”. Even he, a Chareidi apologist, recognized that this was an issue…
an Israeli Yid
anIsraeliYid,
I love every Jew chareidi chiloni all types and colors. (Happens to be I have 6 cousins and two uncles in the IDF; I live in the US and I do my part to daven and learn daily for our soldiers). What I’ve realized about you, on the other hand, is that you do not miss an opportunity to berate, step on, curse out, disgrace etc.. the חרדים and our holy גדולים time after time, you don’t stop. So that brought me to my conclusion that you are genuinely in need of serious help, maybe you’re mentally ill nebach and you’re Stam a deranged fellow (pls submit your name and I will iyh pray for you as well). I will now stop letting your posts bother me.
@anchuldiks
You seem to be the only deranged one here attacking a fellow Jew in such a way. Pray for yourself and seek urgent mental help.
@anchuldiks – “Bemakom Chilul Hashem, ein cholkim kavod laRav”.
I have no hesitation calling out anyone causing a Chilul Hashem, irrespective of title and position – including those Israeli government ministers who purport to represent Halacha but actually do not. And you can keep your Davening to yourself – we don’t need Tefilos of those like you who denigrate those who are actually Moser Nefesh for Klal Yisrael. As HKB”H told Moshe at the Yam Suf – “ma titzak elai – daber el Bnei Yisrael veyisa’u” – there’s a time for Tefila and a time for action. The Chareidi abrogation of responsibility for Klal Yisrael is the ultimate Chilul Hashem, whether you like it or not.
an Israeli Yid
Oh – and I never “curse out” anyone. My words may be pointed, but I don’t use Nivul Peh, and base my statements on Chazal and classical Poskim – including Rishonim and Achronim. Can you say the same?
an Israeli Yid
You guys sound like a bunch of second graders having a fight on the playground. If you had a point to make, it was lost on any adults who might be reading.