United Will Not Join Government Without Draft Law, Says Asher
Translated & summarized from Kikar HaShabbat by baba
He acknowledged past mistakes and criticized the lack of an override clause in judicial reform. Asher announced a strategic shift away from bloc politics, stating UTJ will engage with any party seeking their support, while also criticizing specific politicians and reaffirming party unity and cooperation with Shas.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- UTJ will adopt an 'egoistic' approach, prioritizing its constituents' needs in the next government.
- Asher acknowledged past mistakes, including the failure to secure an override clause in judicial reform.
- The party is shifting away from strict bloc politics and will engage with any party seeking their support.
- Asher criticized Naftali Bennett as a 'walking joke' and dismissed Ofer Winter's draft law statements.
- He reassured that UTJ is unified internally and maintains strong cooperation with Shas on core issues.
He emphasized that this is a non-negotiable condition for entering any future coalition. Asher explained that the party learned from the previous term, during which they felt that despite a right-wing government, the ultra-Orthodox public faced harsh decrees and arrests. He asserted that UTJ would act "egoistically" for its constituents in the next government, prioritizing their needs above all else.
Asher acknowledged that mistakes were made in the past term, particularly regarding the judicial reform. He believes the reform should have included a clause allowing the Knesset to override High Court decisions, which would have been crucial for advancing the draft law. He criticized the President's proposed solution for the draft issue as lacking enforcement power, stating that without an override clause, the High Court would have ultimately blocked any progress.
Addressing the political landscape, Asher announced a strategic shift for UTJ, moving away from strict bloc loyalty. He cited instructions from Rabbi Dov Lando, stating that the party is no longer bound by the concept of blocs and will engage with any party that seeks their support. However, he expressed strong reservations about certain Likud politicians, like Yuli Edelstein and Dan Illouz, whom he accused of not representing the party's values. Asher also sharply criticized former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, calling him a "walking joke," and dismissed election-season statements by Ofer Winter regarding the draft law as "electioneering."
Regarding internal party unity, Asher reassured that there are no divisions between Degel HaTorah and Agudat Yisrael within UTJ, emphasizing mutual respect and adherence to the decisions of their respective rabbinical leaders. He also spoke with respect about Moshe Gafni, the outgoing chairman, and affirmed strong, unified relations with Shas Chairman Aryeh Deri on core issues affecting the ultra-Orthodox community.
Asher also addressed the needs of the working ultra-Orthodox public, stating his personal appreciation for them while reiterating his commitment to serving both Torah scholars and working individuals. He highlighted the party's efforts in establishing educational institutions across the country. However, he drew a firm line on the issue of state-religious ultra-Orthodox educational institutions (MM"H), deferring the decision to senior rabbis and expressing concerns about potential dangers, while promising to establish alternative frameworks.
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