Arab Parties, United Torah Judaism Reportedly in Contact
Translated & summarized from Kikar HaShabbat by baba
Arab parties Ra'am and the Joint List are reportedly in ongoing contact with senior figures from United Torah Judaism, sharing updates on negotiations with the "Change bloc" led by Gadi Eisenkot. The aim is to position themselves as crucial swing votes. Ra'am's Mansour Abbas suggested direct talks on the draft law to gain leverage. While some see this as strategic coordination, United Torah Judaism denies official political alignment, calling recent interactions "casual conversations."
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Arab parties Ra'am and the Joint List are reportedly in ongoing contact with United Torah Judaism.
- The parties are sharing updates on negotiations with Gadi Eisenkot's "Change bloc."
- Ra'am's Mansour Abbas proposed direct talks on the draft law to gain leverage.
- United Torah Judaism denies official political alignment, calling interactions "casual."
- Past collaborations include efforts on the Kaminitz law and draft exemptions for women.
Ongoing communication channels have recently opened between the leaders of the Arab parties Ra'am and the Joint List, and senior figures in the Haredi party United Torah Judaism, according to a report by Kan News reporter Yaara Shapira. The parties are reportedly updating each other on developments in negotiations each is conducting with the "Change bloc" led by Gadi Eisenkot.
The central aim of these discussions is to position the Haredi and Arab parties as kingmakers in the emerging political landscape. Ra'am Chairman Mansour Abbas has proposed that United Torah Judaism initiate direct talks with the Change bloc to advance the draft law concerning military conscription for Haredim. Abbas believes this approach would grant cross-factional legitimacy to a relaxed conscription arrangement for the Haredi public and significantly enhance the negotiating power of these factions.
Recently, MK Yaakov Asher held several conversations with Mansour Abbas and MK Ahmad Tibi. Asher's office described these as "casual conversations" unrelated to political negotiations or coordinated actions, emphasizing they stem from prior parliamentary acquaintance and past cooperation between Haredi and Arab factions on core issues relevant to current negotiations with the Eisenkot bloc.
Past collaborations include MK Moshe Gafni's efforts in 2020, as chairman of the Finance Committee, to advance Ahmad Tibi's initiative to freeze the Kaminitz law, a key demand of the Joint List in current talks. In 2021, Ra'am withdrew its support for a committee to examine exemptions from military service for women on religious grounds at the request of United Torah Judaism, leading to the proposal's removal from the Knesset's agenda.
These past instances highlight a history of coordination on shared issues. Separately, MK Yaakov Asher met with Yisrael Beiteinu Chairman MK Avigdor Lieberman to discuss the draft law and potential agreed-upon frameworks. The meeting focused on formulating a conscription plan acceptable to both Rabbi David Landau and the High Court of Justice. Asher previously outlined three core conditions for any negotiation: the draft law and the status of yeshiva students, funding for Haredi education without mandatory core curriculum content, and maintaining the status quo on religion and state issues.
While some in the political system view these contacts as the beginning of a renewed strategic coordination, United Torah Judaism seeks to temper expectations, denying any official political alignment. The report also references a previous revelation that Gadi Eisenkot instructed an examination of forming a minority government led by him, relying on United Torah Judaism's abstention and partial support from Ra'am.
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