Tensions inside Israel's right-wing bloc escalated this week after Netanyahu's people told Haredi party representatives, including Shas chairman Aryeh Deri, that there is currently no majority to pass the housing-subsidy bill before the end of the summer session, even if that means dissolving the Knesset immediately and holding elections on a date not preferred by the prime minister.
Beyond the difficulty of securing votes, Netanyahu's camp said the housing-subsidy bill has become a symbol of draft evasion and could carry electoral damage. Instead, the prime minister proposed advancing an emergency measure that would block the arrest of Haredi draft dodgers for one year. The arrangement would be based on the enlistment bill now before the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee ahead of its second and third readings.
The plan is to extend the temporary arrangement alongside legislation of Basic Law: Torah Study, with the aim of creating a legal framework that would be acceptable to the Knesset legal adviser and the committee's legal adviser. In talks, Deri warned that serious legal problems were still likely with this route too, but after Netanyahu's aides said they could secure a majority in the plenum, the decision was made to proceed at least with this track. Officials noted that the housing-subsidy bill itself was also expected to face major legal obstacles and likely be struck down by the High Court of Justice.
Work is now underway on the wording of the temporary order to prevent arrests. The Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee is expected to discuss it on Sunday, with a vote in the Knesset plenum planned for Wednesday. At the same time, Basic Law: Torah Study is set to advance in first reading this week, with the rest of the legislative process expected to be completed in the coming weeks. Netanyahu's circle warned, "If the Haredim continue with their unnecessary internal quarrels, we won't manage to legislate anything that will help young Haredim. It's simply intolerable."
