Ultra-Orthodox Parties Demand Draft Exemption Law as Condition for Coalition Entry
Translated & summarized from N12 by baba
Ultra-Orthodox parties are demanding a draft exemption law before joining a coalition, proposing a two-stage entry into government. Prime Minister Netanyahu is reportedly working to prevent their entry into a potential Gadi Eisenkot-led government. The Haredi parties are seeking guarantees, while also navigating complex negotiations. Both the Haredi coalition path and reliance on Arab parties face significant obstacles.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Haredi parties demand draft exemption law as condition for joining coalition.
- Proposed plan involves outside support first, then coalition entry after law passage.
- Prime Minister Netanyahu is reportedly working to prevent Haredi parties from joining a Gadi Eisenkot government.
- Haredi parties are seeking guarantees, including legal opinions, before committing.
- Both Haredi coalition and reliance on Arab parties face significant obstacles for Eisenkot.
- Avigdor Lieberman's role is seen as significant in negotiations due to past experience.
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: first, a government would be sworn in with Haredi support from the outside, with a commitment 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.
This approach carries political risks for the Haredi parties, as they could enable a government's formation without securing their desired law. They are reportedly seeking guarantees, such as a legal opinion from the Attorney General regarding the proposed law. The Haredi parties reportedly lack experience with Gadi Eisenkot, unlike their experience with Avigdor Lieberman, whose appointment to head the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee is viewed in this context due to the draft issue passing through the committee, and because the Haredi parties trust Lieberman's word.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with MK Yaakov Asher of United Torah Judaism for an extended late-night discussion. This meeting occurred amid Likud's efforts to prevent the Haredi parties from joining a government led by Gadi Eisenkot. Likud sources had previously believed the Haredi parties' entry into an Eisenkot government was nearly finalized. However, following their recent efforts, the party now believes they have convinced the Haredi parties not to relinquish their key political leverage, their support for forming a government, without immediate gains.
In parallel to the difficulties in negotiations with the Haredi parties, the possibility of forming a government relying on Arab parties is also facing obstacles. Sources within the "change bloc" are criticizing Lieberman, claiming he is "destroying" the possibility of forming such a government daily. Consequently, both primary avenues for Eisenkot to form a government appear stalled: the rapid formation of a government with external support from Arab parties is not progressing, and the option of a government including the Haredi parties requires complex and lengthy negotiations.
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