Israel Matzav

Netanyahu associates unhappy with Haredi exclusion from government

Netanyahu’s close associate Natan Eshel was said to have attempted to convince the Tekuma rabbis that they should align themselves with the haredim, and not a secularist party.

“Despite all of the hysteria in the media, we strengthen the path you are on to preserving the world of Torah and settlement in the Land of Israel, in cooperation with Yair Lapid and the Yesh Atid party,” rabbis Dov Lior, Haim Steiner, Isser Klonsky and David Chai Hacohen wrote in a letter to Bennett and Ariel.

Earlier on Sunday, Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz expressed discomfort at the idea of leaving haredi parties out of the coalition.

“The prime minister has doubts about rejecting an entire public,” Steinitz said.

“This is an undesirable reality.

Israel needs the widest, most stable government possible. I don’t like the style of boycotting or indirectly boycotting.”

Energy and Water Minister Uzi Landau expressed optimism at the prospect of a coalition that can focus on civil and domestic issues, but disapproved of Yesh Atid and the Bayit Yehudi’s methods.

“We have a chance to bring great changes in allowing everyone to participate in the workforce, enlistment in the army, affordable housing, electoral reform,” he listed. “I call on anyone who believes in these principles – like Bennett and Lapid – not to let us miss this chance again. We need to make sure all of these principles come true, but not through boycotts.” •

Labels: Binyamin Netanyahu, Haredim, Jewish Home party, Likud party, Naftali Bennett, Yair Lapid, Yesh Atid party

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 9:41 AM