Shas Party Withdraws Support from Communications Bill Over Religious Concerns

The Shas party announced on Monday that it will no longer support the communications bill proposed by Minister Shlomo Karhi, citing the exclusion of rabbinical amendments intended to protect religious values from the final draft. This decision follows a similar stance by United Torah Judaism, which also declared it would not back the bill. Shas urged Minister Karhi to separate the bill and bring only the regulatory relief sections, including those affecting Channel 14, to a vote, promising support if this occurs.

The communications reform aims to establish a free government streaming app consolidating all commercial and public TV channels in Israel. Opponents argue this would facilitate access to inappropriate content and lead to widespread Sabbath desecration. Opposition has intensified recently among Sephardic educators concerned about the reform's impact on yeshiva students, especially in peripheral areas.

Additionally, MK Avi Maoz from the Noam party threatened to vote against the bill in the Knesset, opposing what he calls the legitimization of Sabbath desecration. Despite efforts to amend the bill, Maoz admitted failure and declared he could not remain passive.

The political crisis extends beyond the communications bill, with Shas and United Torah Judaism leaders Aryeh Deri and Moshe Gafni warning that no legislation will pass until key laws important to the Haredi community, such as the Basic Law on Torah Study and the daycare law, are approved. Gafni emphasized that without the daycare law's passage, no other laws will advance. A senior Haredi official criticized the government for failing to pass any significant legislation for the Haredi public during its three-and-a-half-year tenure.