As Shas thought its bill dubbed the “Jobs Bill” was due for a final vote, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu signaled the bill will not be passed, a bill intended to provide additional deputy mayors in large cities. The bill would have provided an additional two deputy mayors [for chareidim] in Yerushalayim. Ahead of the vote, the prime minister spoke with Shas leader R’ Eli Yishai, explaining his position, to which Yishai agreed, backing down, despite the fact his party was behind the impetus. The prime minister spoke with Yishai to permit him to scrap the bill, saving face by not having the prime minister make such an announcement, a move that may have also led to a coalition crisis.

The original bill was intended to add deputy mayors to large cities, those with over 200,000 residents. Realizing the bill was unrealistic for a number of reasons, including budgetary, the bill was redone to address additional slots in Jerusalem, which would have gone to Shas and Yahadut HaTorah, but in the end, the bill was scrapped and the current situation will remain, without additional deputy mayors in the capital.

The news of the prime minister’s decision resulted in words of praise and criticism from the opposition, with Kadima applauding the move, yet expressing sharp criticism against Likud for its accommodating policies vis-à-vis the chareidi parties.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)