The Likud faction fears that the widening rift in light of the dispute between the ultra-orthodox parties Agudat Israel and Degel Torah, which together make up the Torah Judaism faction, endangers the chances of the bloc led by opposition leader Binyamin Netanyahu to obtain 61 seats.
Let's recall that Netanyahu tried to mediate the ideological crisis between the factions and even published an unusual article in the ultra-Orthodox newspaper Merkaz Ha-Zariman in which he called for unity in Torah Judaism, but from the house of the spiritual leader of Degel Torah Rabbi Gershon Edelstein, a message was conveyed to the MKs "not to interfere". Likud fears that If the crisis is not resolved by the closing of the lists in 10 days, on September 15, this poses a real threat to Netanyahu's chances of obtaining a majority in the Knesset.
Yitzhak Goldknopf, photo: Oren Ben Hakon
Moshe Gafni, photo: Oren Ben Hakon
Senior figures in Torah Judaism tell "Israel Today": "Netanyahu cannot intervene in the ideological matter now, he is like a babysitter. He is only making sure that the negotiations do not get out of control and that they do not break the rules."
The dispute in question is between Hassidism in Belez, represented by MK Israel Eichler and belonging to the Agudat Israel led by Yitzhak Guhadkanoff, and the Lithuanian faction Dagel Torah led by Moshe Gafni on the issue of ultra-orthodox education.
In Belez they want to increase the budget for their educational institutions and asked to enter a budgeting program in exchange for meeting the objectives of the Ministry of Education.
The Torah flag opposes the move for fear that it will be a loophole through which the state will interfere in the contents and harm the independence of ultra-orthodox education.
Such a step, says the Torah Flag, may set a precedent after which other Torah Talmudists will join the plan of the Ministry of Education to receive a budget.
The Israel Association has no alternative.
The spiritual leader of Degal Torah, Rabbi Gershon Edelstein, is not only strongly opposed to the inclusion of Belaz in the Ministry of Education's plan, he also refuses to include Belaz in the independent education stream of Degal Torah where there are more budgeted institutions - but they are intended for converts.
Ultra-Orthodox students at the start of the current school year (photographers have no connection to the news), photo: Oren Ben Hakon
Netanyahu last week, photo: Oren Ben Hakon
In the background of the controversy, the Torah banner threatens to break up Torah Judaism and run separately, when it is estimated that they pass the blocking percentage even without Agudat Israel and the Hasidim.
In Belez, they are angry about interference in their education system and claim that the decision of the Rebbe of Belez, Rabbi Yishchar Dov Rokah, was violated.
Tonight (Monday) the parties held negotiations but did not reach a breakthrough. Currently there is an agreement between the parties that in the event that there are 61 mandates for the Netanyahu bloc - Torah Judaism as a whole will require a comparison of budgeting with the Talmud of the Torah. In addition, a target date will be set (towards the end of winter) for the achievement of Equalization of the budget for the Torah Talmud.
Haredi MKs in the Knesset, photo: Oren Ben Hakon
The issue in dispute is what happens if there are not 61 mandates for the bloc.
In such a case, Belaz demands immediate entry into independent education.
In the flag of the Torah, as mentioned, they refuse.
Senior officials at the Torah flag insist that they will not compromise.
"If Belaz doesn't come down from the tree, let the rest of Agudat Yisrael establish for them the fact that if they don't compromise we will all unite into the Torah Judaism faction and Eichler will be left out," the party says.
The assessment so far is that at the end of the crisis it will be resolved and the Israel Association and the Torah flag will run together.
But if they do not come to an agreement, there is a danger that the Israel Association will not pass the blocking percentage and the chances of a right-wing government will be eliminated.
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