Shas Party Will Join Draft Law Effort If Solution Found, MK Pindrus Claims
Translated & summarized from Kikar HaShabbat by baba
MK Yitzhak Pindrus believes the Shas party will support a new draft law if a consensus is reached, noting that Shas also has yeshiva students affected by current laws. This comes as coalition talks stall over the issue of yeshiva students' draft exemptions. Shas, however, denied negotiating with the "left-wing coalition" and asked other parties not to speak for them.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- MK Yitzhak Pindrus believes Shas will support a draft law solution if one is found.
- The status of yeshiva students remains a major obstacle in coalition formation talks.
- A plan to freeze draft enforcement for up to a year is reportedly being considered.
- MK Yaakov Asher set three prerequisites for draft law negotiations.
- Shas denied negotiating with the "left-wing coalition" and asked others not to speak for them.
Member of Knesset Yitzhak Pindrus of United Torah Judaism expressed his belief that the Shas party would support a legislative effort to regulate the draft law for yeshiva students if a mutually agreeable solution is reached. Pindrus stated in an interview on Channel 12's "Meet the Press" that if a consensus formula for the draft law is presented, Shas would not oppose it, citing that Shas also has yeshiva students affected by the current legal situation. This assessment comes amidst ongoing negotiations for a stable coalition government, where the status of yeshiva students remains a significant hurdle.
Pindrus, associated with the Degel HaTorah faction of United Torah Judaism, has previously insisted that his party would not join a government without a legal arrangement for Torah scholars. While the two Haredi parties often coordinate on draft issues, their approaches to specific proposals have sometimes differed. Pindrus anticipates that once a practical formula is on the table, Shas will align with United Torah Judaism.
Reports suggest that within the "change bloc" of parties, a plan is being considered that includes a commitment to freeze the enforcement of Haredi conscription and arrests of draft dodgers for up to a year immediately after the government's formation. During this interim period, parties would work to formulate an agreed-upon draft law, potentially based on an improved version of Lieberman's 2018 proposal.
United Torah Judaism Chairman MK Yaakov Asher and Yisrael Beiteinu Chairman MK Avigdor Lieberman recently held a significant meeting to discuss the draft law and explore a consensus framework. Asher outlined three key prerequisites for any potential negotiations: 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 matters.
In response to Pindrus's remarks, Shas issued a statement clarifying that, under the directive of the Council of Torah Sages, the party is not conducting negotiations with any element of the "left-wing coalition" and urged other MKs to refrain from speaking on Shas's behalf.
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