Ultra-Orthodox Demand Override Clause in Draft Exemption Deal
Translated & summarized from Kipa by baba
The Hasidic leadership, part of the ultra-Orthodox community, is demanding an override clause and personal commitments from all members of the "Change Bloc" for draft exemption legislation. This clause would allow the Knesset to bypass Supreme Court rulings, similar to a mechanism used in 1994. The demands, outlined in a document, also involve discussions with the Attorney General and represent a significant shift from the bloc's previous stance against judicial overhaul measures. The Hasidic faction seeks to be a key player in setting coalition terms.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Hasidic leaders demand an override clause to bypass Supreme Court rulings on draft exemption.
- They require personal commitments from all 48 "Change Bloc" members for the draft exemption law.
- The override clause is compared to a 1994 mechanism used under Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.
- The demand is seen as ironic given the "Change Bloc's" past protests against judicial overhaul.
- The Hasidic leadership seeks a central role in coalition negotiations beyond Lithuanian Haredi leaders.
A controversial "override clause," which would allow the Knesset to re-pass legislation that the Supreme Court has struck down, is now a key demand from the Hasidic leadership in negotiations with the "Change Bloc." The bloc, which opposes the current government, is reportedly being asked by the Hasidic faction, aligned with Agudat Yisrael, not only for support of a draft exemption law but also for a mechanism to bypass potential judicial review.
According to a report by Channel 12 News, senior Hasidic leaders met recently at the home of the Slonim Rebbe's son. Attendees included prominent Rebbes and representatives from the Gur and Vizhnitz Hasidic communities, representing the core of the Ashkenazi Hasidic public. The meeting focused on demands to be presented during negotiations with the Change Bloc.
The document prepared for the meeting also addresses discussions with Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara regarding the possibility of advancing a broad draft exemption law. The notes indicate that while coordination with the Attorney General is possible, her positions on specific principles and reservations remain unclear.
Beyond party leaders, the Hasidic leadership is demanding personal commitments from all 48 members of the Change Bloc, including MKs Matan Kahana and Gilad Kariv, to support the draft exemption law. This signifies a requirement for individual pledges rather than just party-wide agreements.
The most significant demand involves the override clause, explicitly compared in the document to the one used in 1994 during Yitzhak Rabin's premiership to pass a law banning non-kosher meat imports, despite a Supreme Court ruling. The Hasidic leadership seeks a similar mechanism to ensure the draft exemption law's survival if it faces judicial challenge. The document also suggests seeking prior backing from the Attorney General for this move.
This demand carries political irony, as many in the Change Bloc protested against the judicial overhaul, which included calls for a broad override clause, just three years ago. Now, they may be asked to support a similar mechanism as part of coalition negotiations and the draft law. While the Change Bloc has primarily engaged with Lithuanian Haredi leader Rabbi Dov Lando, this new document highlights the Hasidic leadership's own substantial demands, indicating a need for broader negotiations.
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