Ultra-Orthodox Parties Demand Draft Exemption Law as Condition for Joining Government
Translated & summarized from Mako by baba
Ultra-Orthodox parties are demanding a draft exemption law before joining a coalition, proposing a two-stage plan where they would support a government externally first. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly working to prevent this coalition. Meanwhile, efforts to form a government with Arab party support are also facing significant obstacles, leaving Gadi Eisenkot's path to forming a government stalled.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Haredi parties demand draft exemption law as condition for joining a coalition government.
- A proposed two-stage plan involves external support before Haredi parties join the government.
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly working to prevent the Haredi parties from joining the coalition.
- Haredi parties are seeking legal guarantees before committing to the proposed plan.
- Efforts to form a government with Arab party support are also facing major difficulties.
Ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) parties are demanding the passage of a draft exemption law as a prerequisite for joining a potential coalition government. While they state they will not support a government without such a law, forming a government is seen as necessary to advance it.
A proposed two-stage plan is under discussion to facilitate Haredi support. Initially, a government would be sworn in with external support from Haredi parties, accompanied by a promise to advance a government-sponsored draft exemption bill. Only after the law is passed would parties like United Torah Judaism and possibly Shas join the government itself.
This approach carries political risks for the Haredi parties, as they could enable a government's formation without ultimately securing the desired legislation. They are reportedly seeking guarantees, such as legal opinions from the Attorney General's office, regarding the proposed law.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly working to thwart this move. He met with United Torah Judaism MK Yaakov Asher for an extended late-night discussion at the Prime Minister's Office. Likud sources had previously believed the Haredi parties' entry into a government led by Gadi Eisenkot was nearly finalized, but now believe their efforts have convinced the Haredi parties not to relinquish their key political leverage without immediate gains.
Efforts to form a government are facing obstacles on multiple fronts. Besides the complex negotiations with the Haredi parties, attempts to form a government relying on support from Arab parties are also encountering difficulties. Sources within the "change bloc" are criticizing Avigdor Lieberman, accusing him of "destroying" the possibility of forming such a government daily. This leaves Eisenkot's primary avenues for government formation stalled: the rapid formation of a government with external Arab party support is not progressing, and a coalition involving the Haredi parties requires a complicated and lengthy negotiation process.
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