Towards another crisis in the coalition? • Without the approval of the budget, it is not possible to transfer funds to the students and the ultra-Orthodox institutions • "It is important to us that the families can survive"

If the battle between the Likud and the blue and white coalition over a one-year or biennial budget question is not enough, Israel Today has learned that the ultra-Orthodox have sent a clear message to the prime minister: "If you do not pass a budget, do not call us after the election."

For the past two days, the ultra-Orthodox have talked to Netanyahu and his people, and told them that they do not care what budget will be transferred, one-year or two-year, but the state budget must pass in the near future. What is behind the ultra-Orthodox demand is the fact that without the approval of the budget, the funds will not be transferred in the budgets agreed upon, such as salaries for students and institutions.

The government has convened to approve the 2019 budget

Already today, in fact, there is a delay in payments, but in talks with Netanyahu it was agreed that part of the budget will be transferred, and so it happened. But starting in October and the following two months, the ultra-Orthodox will not be able to transfer the funds to the public without the approval of the state budget.

"Give bread to children"

A senior member of the ultra-Orthodox factions told Israel Today: "The situation of the ultra-Orthodox public is not good anyway. There is no way we can convince the public to go out and vote for us, even if the few shekels they receive are not possible. A person will not go to the polls if he has no bread to give for children". He said, "They can fight until tomorrow, a one-year or biennial budget. We are not interested in it. It is important to us that the budget passes and the families can survive. If no budget is passed, Netanyahu has nothing to call us after the election."

Meanwhile, at a meeting of the Torah Judaism faction yesterday, Litzman attacked Bnei Gantz and blue and white. Litzman referred to the reports published for the first time in this newspaper about the ultra-Orthodox 'rapprochement with Bnei Gantz, and the joint work with them in the Ministerial Committee, compared to the ultra-Orthodox anger at Netanyahu due to the instability of the government. Litzman denied the allegations, saying, "There is no rapprochement with Bnei Gantz."

Litzman referred to a blue-and-white vote last week in favor of the Conversion Act, contrary to coalition discipline, saying: "How can one approach them after they have betrayed and violated a coalition agreement? How can one approach the party whose opinions are these?

He told friends about his conversation with Netanyahu, during which the prime minister promised that such an event would not happen again. Litzman, for his part, was furious with Likud members who did not go to the polls and claimed that it was an "injustice" of the Likud.