Haredi parties threaten to block state comptroller vote over daycare law

After Thursday's High Court of Justice hearing and the judges' suggestion that the election for state comptroller be held again, ultra-Orthodox lawmakers are threatening to withhold support for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's nominee, Michael Ravello, unless the coalition advances the daycare subsidy bill. The warning came as MKs congratulated coalition chairman Ofir Katz in the Knesset plenum over Ravello's win.

A source in the ultra-Orthodox parties told Walla that the issue is political retaliation for what they see as neglect of their demands. “No daycare, no comptroller,” the source said. “Our issues are not being counted, the coalition is not making an effort to advance them, the draft issue was thrown down the stairs, and this week they also decided not to pass the daycare law.”

The source added that the parties will not provide support for nothing in return. “We do not give free gifts, no daycare law, no Michael Ravello as state comptroller,” the source said. The dispute now links the fate of the comptroller vote to the stalled daycare legislation, with the ultra-Orthodox parties signaling they may use their leverage against the coalition.