The simmering coalition crisis surrounding the chareidi draft law has erupted into a dramatic showdown. On Monday night, Degel HaTorah lawmakers were instructed to immediately resign from the government and coalition following an urgent letter from Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch and Rav Dov Landau. The unprecedented directive includes stepping down from all parliamentary roles.
The move came after it became clear that Likud has no intention of advancing the draft law in the form that had been previously promised to the chareidi parties. In anticipation of a full withdrawal, Degel HaTorah MKs gathered at the office of MK Moshe Gafni to begin preparing resignation letters.
The handwritten note declared: “Since the governing authorities are showing an intent to degrade lomdei Torah and have failed to uphold their commitments — my view is that participation in the government and coalition must cease immediately.”
At the same time, Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu — furious over the delay in moving the draft bill forward — personally went to the office of Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Chairman Yuli Edelstein on Monday evening, entering through a rear entrance to avoid media attention.
Sources indicate that Netanyahu attempted to apply direct pressure on Edelstein to finalize and present the law. A senior coalition official commented: “Edelstein is behaving like Yoaz Hendel — stalling for time, pretending to be statesmanlike, while the government is collapsing from within.”
Despite the chaos, coalition insiders remain cautiously hopeful. “The chareidi pressure has had an effect,” one source said. “We’re hopeful that a draft version of the law will finally be presented tonight.”
{Matzav.com Israel}