United Torah Judaism MK Slams 'Hypocrisy' on Draft Law Flexibility
Translated & summarized from JDN by baba
United Torah Judaism Chairman Yaakov Asher criticized political flexibility on the draft law, stating it could have prevented past animosity. His comments followed Yisrael Beiteinu Chairman Avigdor Lieberman's expressed willingness to compromise on the issue to form a government. Asher also stressed that any coalition offer would first be presented to senior rabbis for their approval.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- United Torah Judaism MK Yaakov Asher criticized political flexibility on the draft law.
- Asher stated that recent flexibility could have prevented past "incitement and fratricidal hatred."
- Avigdor Lieberman expressed readiness to compromise on the draft law to form a government.
- Asher drew a biblical analogy for political negotiations and compromise.
- Any coalition offer will first be presented to senior rabbis for their decision.
Yaakov Asher, chairman of the United Torah Judaism party, expressed dismay on Friday regarding the recent willingness of politicians, including Avigdor Lieberman, to compromise on the conscription law. Asher stated that it was "joyful to discover the flexibility of all the political players on the issue of conscription," but lamented that "it is painful to think how much incitement and fratricidal hatred could have been saved if the same flexibility had been shown in recent years." His remarks come after Lieberman, chairman of Yisrael Beiteinu, announced his readiness to compromise on the draft law as part of efforts to form a government, stating that beyond his conditions on the government's composition and Netanyahu's tenure, "on all other issues, it is permissible and desirable to be flexible and compromise."
Asher also commented on discussions about potentially including United Torah Judaism in the coalition, drawing an analogy from the weekly Torah portion concerning the match between Isaac and Rebecca. He noted the biblical passage, "Let us call the maiden and ask her," suggesting that this principle should be remembered in political "matchmaking" before proposals are made. Asher emphasized that any political proposal would first be brought before the "matchmakers," referring to the revered Torah sages, for their decision.
