Ultra-Orthodox Parties Gain Leverage as Kingmakers After Election
Translated & summarized from Kikar HaShabbat by baba
Ultra-Orthodox parties, particularly United Torah Judaism, have become kingmakers after the recent election, gaining significant leverage. For the first time in twenty years, United Torah Judaism is not automatically aligned with Benjamin Netanyahu, potentially leading to a stable conscription law for yeshiva students. Shas Chairman Arie Deri is now strategizing his next political moves in this altered landscape.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- United Torah Judaism is now a swing vote, not automatically aligned with Benjamin Netanyahu.
- The shift grants ultra-Orthodox parties significant bargaining power and responsibility.
- A key goal is achieving a stable conscription law exempting Torah scholars.
- Shas Chairman Arie Deri is navigating the new political reality and potential alliances.
- Analyst Yishai Cohen highlighted the dramatic shift in the ultra-Orthodox political standing.
The recent election results have dramatically reshaped the political landscape for the ultra-Orthodox community, placing its representatives in a pivotal position. For the first time in approximately two decades, the United Torah Judaism party is not automatically aligned with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc. This shift makes the party a crucial swing vote, granting it significant bargaining power but also considerable responsibility.
The central question for the Torah world is whether this newfound political standing will translate into a historic achievement: a stable and agreed-upon conscription law that exempts Torah scholars and yeshiva students from military service. Analyst Yishai Cohen of Kikar HaShabbat discussed these developments, noting that the ultra-Orthodox have "already won" regarding the draft issue, referencing a dramatic shift by Avigdor Lieberman.
Meanwhile, the Shas party faces its own strategic decisions. While United Torah Judaism is adopting an independent stance, the next move for Shas Chairman Arie Deri is under scrutiny. The key question is whether Deri will navigate the new political reality by maneuvering between different blocs or maintain a separate political axis.
Cohen's analysis, presented on Kikar HaShabbat's studio, delved into the new power dynamics and strategic implications for both United Torah Judaism and Shas, highlighting the complex and unprecedented situation for the ultra-Orthodox parties.
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