In a Tuesday evening interview on Kol Chai Radio, opposition MK (Ichud HaLeumi) Dr. Michael Ben-Ari, a shomer shabbat Jew, questioned the motives of the Shas party, seemingly unable to understand why the decision has not been made together with Yahadut HaTorah to bring down the government.

Ben-Ari, a talmid of the late Rabbi Meir Kahane HY”D, explained that he is well-aware that based on post-election statistics, he is sitting in Knesset due to a chareidi mandate, explaining he definitely received enough votes from the chareidi public to secure his position, adding as such, he feels loyalty to chareidi constituents and a constant awareness to represent chareidi interests as well as those of the right-wing dati leumi camp.

Ben-Ari explained that the chareidim are not in favor of forfeiting portions of Eretz Yisrael to Israel’s enemies, and he points out that Shas, with 11 mandates, together with Yahadut HaTorah, have enough combined strength to halt the latest evil decree, the 10-month construction freeze. He questions that even if one accepts the fact that this is a decision forced upon Israel by the United States, accepting the prime minister’s explanation that America’s unwavering support is too critical today due to the Iranian threat, the situation begs the question “what will change in 10 months” and after the freeze period, “what will take place?”

Ben-Ari decried the decision to halt construction, a move that will present new difficulties to the dati leumi and chareidi communities alike, insisting the time has come for the camps to unite for the common good, towards achieving their combined goals, emphasizing the construction freeze mustn’t be perceived as a fait accompli and action to reverse the move must be taken, immediately.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)