United Torah Judaism Demands Shas Inclusion for Government Entry
Translated & summarized from Maariv by baba
United Torah Judaism informed Gadi Eisenkot they will not join a government without the Shas party, complicating coalition talks. Eisenkot prefers to bring in UTJ first, while Avigdor Lieberman wants Shas included from the start. UTJ fears being the only ultra-Orthodox party, weakening their influence on key issues like conscription. The final decision hinges on Shas leader Arie Deri's stance, which is currently uncertain.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- United Torah Judaism will not join a government without the Shas party, according to a message to Gadi Eisenkot.
- Gadi Eisenkot prefers to advance with UTJ first, while Avigdor Lieberman wants Shas included from the start.
- UTJ fears being the sole ultra-Orthodox party, which could weaken their demands on conscription and yeshiva students.
- The formation of the government is complicated by uncertainty over Ra'am's potential abstention and Shas leader Arie Deri's decision.
- Avigdor Lieberman is set to chair the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.
United Torah Judaism (UTJ) has conveyed a clear message to Gadi Eisenkot, a key negotiator for the "Change bloc," stating they will not join a government without the inclusion of the Shas party. This demand complicates Eisenkot's efforts to form a coalition, as he prefers to advance with UTJ first, while Avigdor Lieberman, leader of Yisrael Beiteinu, insists on bringing Shas in from the outset. UTJ's reluctance stems from a fear of being the sole ultra-Orthodox party in a coalition with secular and liberal partners, potentially relying on the abstention of Arab parties. They are concerned this position would weaken their ability to advance their demands, particularly regarding the conscription law and the status of yeshiva students. The inclusion of Shas would bolster the negotiating power of both ultra-Orthodox parties.
Eisenkot's strategy had initially banked on the possibility of the Ra'am party abstaining from a no-confidence vote, thereby enabling the formation of a government with UTJ even without Shas. However, Ra'am's abstention is not guaranteed, and UTJ's willingness to join alone is far from certain. Disagreements also exist within the Change bloc regarding the approach to integrating the ultra-Orthodox parties. While Eisenkot and Lieberman ultimately aim for the same coalition, they differ on the timing and the feasibility of securing Shas's agreement immediately. Eisenkot believes waiting for Deri could delay government formation and prefers a phased approach, whereas Lieberman is confident that an agreement with both ultra-Orthodox parties can be reached early on.
The ultimate decision rests with Arie Deri, whose stance remains uncertain according to sources familiar with the negotiations. It is also unclear how advanced serious discussions are between Eisenkot's team and the ultra-Orthodox parties. Meanwhile, Lieberman is slated to head the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, with its first session scheduled for Monday. He has not yet begun receiving classified briefings for the designated role.
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