Ultra-Orthodox Party Denies Involvement in Minority Government Talks
Translated & summarized from Kikar HaShabbat by baba
United Torah Judaism has denied any official involvement in reported plans for a minority government, which would allegedly rely on their abstention and Ra'am's support. Gadi Eisenkot is reportedly exploring this option, which faces opposition from Avigdor Lieberman and unresolved issues like the Haredi conscription law. President Isaac Herzog will begin coalition consultations on Wednesday, urging parties to find solutions to prevent new elections.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- United Torah Judaism denies involvement in reported minority government plans.
- Gadi Eisenkot is exploring a minority government relying on Haredi abstention and Ra'am support.
- Avigdor Lieberman opposes any government dependent on Haredi or Arab parties.
- The Haredi conscription law remains a major obstacle to potential coalition agreements.
- President Herzog begins coalition consultations on Wednesday to prevent new elections.
United Torah Judaism has issued a statement preemptively denying any official involvement in reported discussions about forming a minority government. The party declared that any publication attributed to them that is not officially released by the party is considered denied. This statement comes amid reports that Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the 'Yesh!' party, is exploring the possibility of establishing a minority government. This potential government would reportedly rely on the abstention of United Torah Judaism and partial support from the Ra'am party, potentially creating a bloc of 49 mandates against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's 46.
The reported plan involves United Torah Judaism abstaining from votes during the government's swearing-in, while Ra'am would provide active support. The Joint List would reportedly not oppose the government. Senior figures in the "change bloc" are said to be working on securing this political safety net.
However, significant obstacles remain. Avigdor Lieberman, chairman of Yisrael Beiteinu, has stated his firm opposition to any government leaning on Haredi or Arab parties, directly or indirectly. The contentious issue of the conscription law for Haredim also persists, with MK Yitzhak Goldknopf, chairman of Agudat Yisrael, reiterating the faction's demand for a law without quotas or sanctions, as dictated by the Council of Torah Sages.
While senior figures within the faction confirmed that contacts are being made through intermediaries, they assess the chances of such a move succeeding as very slim. Even within the change bloc, there is an acknowledgment of the difficulty in reaching a legislative text acceptable to all parties.
President Isaac Herzog is scheduled to begin consultations with faction representatives on Wednesday, following the official election results from the Central Elections Committee chairman, Judge Noam Sohlberg. The President has expressed his intention to prevent another election cycle and urged the factions to approach the discussions with an open mind and heart to find creative solutions.
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