Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is seeking cabinet approval to make the final decision regarding the graves at the proposed building site of the fortified emergency room of Barzilai Hospital in Ashkelon.

According to Galei Tzahal (Army Radio) host Razi Barkai’s speculation, Deputy Minister of Health in a recent meeting with the prime minister agreed to hand the decision over to the prime minister, who is officially the health minister, alleviating himself of the problem. It appears that Litzman may realize he has exhausted his options in the battle, but is seeking an escape hatch, seeking to prevent a situation that would compel his resignation.

In actuality, this would permit Litzman and Yahadut HaTorah to protest a decision to move the bones while removing the responsibility for the decision from Litzman’s shoulders.

If this proves to actually be the scenario, it may not however serve to satisfy Atra Kadisha protests, which may continue of the cabinet gives the green light to move the bones to permit construction on the site proposed originally.

During the weekly cabinet meeting on Sunday Litzman expressed his opposition to the move, stating it is a dangerous precedent, referring to the prime minister usurping a minister’s authority if he does not agree with a minister’s position. Litzman added Yahadut HaTorah is strongly opposed to the move. That said, he added if the prime minister decides to override his decision, he has not alternative but to accept his authority.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)