The smoke hasn’t cleared from the verbal assaults from Degel HaTorah assaults against Shas for joining the World Zionist Organization and it appears the parties may be going head to head once again, this time over the Arnona Tax Bill.

The bill intends to include all shuls in the present exemption law, that is to say they will not have to pay annual arnona property tax.

The problem lies with those who have challenged the current situation, accusing some “commercial institutions” of taking advantage of the current law which exempts shuls from paying the tax. The challenge is directed at shuls equipped with halls that are used for catering events or perhaps serve as a host for a beis medrash or talmud torah. A shul that is closed during the day except for davening times is fine; no questions asked. The others however are being viewed by some as taking advantage of the law, making money on the one hand, while enjoying the tax exemption on the other.

The problem is the bill is stuck in governmental red tape, with Shas trying to push it through the Interior Committee, headed by party member MK David Azoulai, and Degel HaTorah MK R’ Moshe Gafne, who chairs the Knesset Finance Committee is seeking to pull it through his committee, insisting that since it deals with money his committee must handle it.

Shas leader Deputy Prime Minister R’ Eli Yishai is working to push it through the Shas-headed committee, and Shas has approached MK Ze’ev Elkin, the Likud faction chairman, who assist in pushing the bill along. 

For now, the bill has succeeded passing its first reading, which occurred ahead of the storm, but it now appears the territorial dispute between the two chareidi parties has halted the bill’s progress.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)