Once again, the Agudas Yisrael and Degel HaTorah factions of Yahadut HaTorah are at odds, this time, over who will chair the Knesset Finance Committee. According to reports, MK Yaakov Litzman has announced he plans to fill the slot, and on the issue of heading the committee there will be no compromise. The problem is that the head of the Degel faction, R’ Moshe Gafne, released the same message.
Litzman explains that the position has been his and he will serve as the chair once again. Gafne on the other hand stated Litzman served as chair long enough, and it is time to rotate to Degel this time around.
According to reports, Litzman is not just trying to flex his political muscle, but he is left with no alternative. Reliable but unconfirmed reports state the Gerrer Rebbe Shlita has instructed Litzman not to accept any ministerial or deputy ministerial posts. It appears the decision dates back to the Lev Simcha, who explained a minister of deputy minister is officially part of the government and is therefore directly tied to the governmental chilul Shabbos.
Litzman announced that it is the committee chair or nothing, since a deputy ministerial post is not an option and therefore, Degel will have to bow out. Tensions are flaring and there is already rumors of a possible split between the factions, again.
(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
8 Responses
You’re supposed to report NEWS. This isn’t news. News would be that Lizman and Gafne agree on something. Then you could also report news that Eliyahu Hanovi is on his way to the Knesset to report that Moshiach is starting to put together his government. News would be that the chareidi olam, including Shas, would have achdus. Machloikis? That ain’t news.
They are making a mistake wanting the job. Unless Israel is the only country in the entire world to escape, the next few years will be a bad time to be in charge of any committee involved with finance and economics. No matter what you do, you will be blamed.
Better they should demand benefits for people that puts food on the table, and let the hilonim preside over the sinking economy.
Why don’t they cut the shtik, and just flip a coin!
its funny that UTJ stands for UNITED torah jewry and these guys break apart so often
MK Yaakov Litzman was the only one who was ever appointed to serve as Chairman of the Knesset Finance Committee while sitting as the OPPOSITION in the government. And that is because even the Chilonim recognize his ehrlichkeit and can be trusted in being fair with Money and finance issues. Secondly, he has the experience. I don’t think it’s fair to put someone else.
were is ahron hakohen when is so desperately needed
If Litzman has a specific religiously-based instruction from his Rebbe, he should be accomodated by gafni.
Mr Yerusholaimer Yid (#5), you are wrong. The reason that MK Litzman was allowed to remain as Chairman of the Finance Committee was purely political. It was felt by the Prime Minister that the best way of persuading the chareidi party to join the coalition was by keeping him there. When it became clear that it wasn’t working, they sacked him. If you will jog your memory, you will remember that they almost sacked him on another occasion too when he refused to do their will and only after he backed down did they leave him there. There is little respect for MK Litzman in the Finance Ministry and they certainly dont recognize his ehrlichkeit there. The tango between the Finance Ministry and the Finance Committee has always been one of deals (often underhand and behind-the-scenes) and there is little room for ehrlichkeit there. Whilst we, as the chareidi community, often gain from these wheely-deely agreements, it is far from honest and trustworthy.