Goldknopf lashes out over Deri-linked move to freeze yeshiva arrests

MK Yitzhak Goldknopf reacted angrily on Sunday after Kikar HaShabbat reported that Shas leader Aryeh Deri was behind a push to advance legislation that would halt arrests of yeshiva students for studying Torah. Goldknopf accused unnamed actors of using “tricks and spin” to generate headlines, saying, “We have had enough of tricks and gimmicks meant only to create headlines and spin. What the government failed to do in 4 years it certainly will not do now. We have long since disabused ourselves of illusions and have no trust.”

He also said that, in line with the instruction of senior rabbis, his camp would demand that a bill to dissolve the Knesset be brought on Wednesday. The comments prompted a sharp response from Shas MK Michael Malkieli, who said Goldknopf’s side stayed silent when a report tied the initiative to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the Belz rebbe, and Rabbi Moshe Hillel Hirsch, but attacked it once Deri was identified as the person promoting it.

Malkieli argued that only this plan could now stop the arrests of Torah students, and accused critics of endangering “80,000 yeshiva students” for ego and credit. He asked, “Are you prepared to risk 80,000 yeshiva students who are now under threat of arrest, just because of ego and credit considerations. How far will jealousy take you?”

Earlier on Sunday, Yishai Cohen reported that about two weeks ago Deri contacted government secretary Yossi Fuchs with a proposal to split the draft law being advanced in the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. Under the plan, transitional provisions would be passed for one year by emergency order, keeping financial sanctions in place but stopping arrests. Deri has spoken with Fuchs in recent days to speed the process and, according to the report, avoid street unrest and protests. The emergency legislation would address only the arrest issue, not the economic sanctions.