Haredim at an IDF induction center
Photo: Motti Kimchi
Coalition faces 'toughest crisis yet' with IDF draft bill
With Haredi parties threatening to vote against 2019 budget, Likud attempts to entangle draft bill crisis, find solution Haredim, Kahlon, Lieberman can all live with; Kahlon professes willingness to 'fight until the end' to have state budget approved; crisis is 'toughest yet' for the coalition, says senior coalition official.
Despite a late night meeting
with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu—found to be ultimately fruitless—and
the creation of joint coalition member teams, the Haredi parties and the Likud party have yet to come to an agreement over the contentious IDF conscription bill—before Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman and Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon even weighed in on the matter.
The Likud, meanwhile, are attempting to find a middle ground—having the Ministerial Legislation Committee approve a version of the draft bill that's as close as possible to the version struck down
by the High Court due to inequality and then approve it during the Knesset's summer session, but only after the state's budget is itself approved.
The heads of United Torah Judaism (UTJ) insist a new draft bill, favorable to their demands, be brought to a vote before voting on the state's 2019 budget mid-March. Due to pressures from the party's Council of Torah Sages, the Ashkenazi ultra-Orthodox MKs have had no choice but to declare they will vote against the budget unless their demands on the draft bill are fulfilled.
Haredim at an IDF induction center. Coalition's toughest crisis yet? (Photo: Motti Kimchi)
To that end, Prime Minister Netanyahu's party is examining a draft bill with only "minor changes" compared to the original, with the entire process carried out with Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit's supervision, as the party fervently hopes the new version is also acceptable to Lieberman and Kahlon.
Despite a jocular Purim video, Defense Minister Lieberman believes any decision on conscription rests with his ministry (Photo: Defense minister's spokesmanship)
The defense minister, it should be mentioned, has already stated decision on conscription rests only with his own ministry.
A senior UTJ official said Thursday, "We went into the government with very clear conditions, after it was proven that a coalition that persecutes Haredim and that does not allow men of faith to study torah was impossible.
"We don't want elections, nor is there a need to be led to ones, but some values Haredi Judaism cannot compromise on. Quickly putting together an amended conscription law is a guarantee of the government's future and the coalition's wholeness. They should remember we're under internal pressures ourselves, with our rabbis demanding answers."
Education Minister Naftali Bennett lent his voice to the debate Thursday, when he said, "We have a fine national government, and its stability is of paramount importance. I call on both parties to show responsibility and avoid unnecessary ego play. A moderate, balanced conscription agreement for Haredim exists, and it will allow us to continue administering the State of Israel with forethought and stateliness."
Defense Minister Lieberman's satirical video (צילום: תקשורת שר הביטחון)
Defense Minister Lieberman, however, struck a less conciliatory tone when he accused the Haredi parties of "extortion under threats," and fired back with a satirical video in which he dressed up a Haredi soldier and said UTJ heads have joined elite IDF units.
Kahlon ready and willing to fight it out
Finance Minister Kahlon weighed in on the controversy for the first time Friday, when he sent Haredi parties a clear message saying he was willing to "fight" for the budget to pass in the Knesset.
In addition, a senior coalition official said that this was "the current coalition's toughest crisis since its founding."
Finance Minister Kahlon voiced his determination to 'fight to the end' for the state's 2019 budget to pass (Photo: Alex Kolomoisky)
The treasury minister tweeted, "I'll fight all the way to the end for the 2019 budget. The budget is intended for IDF soldiers, children, the health system, Holocaust survivors, the disabled, employment, young couples and a strong economy."
Despite Kahlon's determination to pass the budget, and the added fact that no coalition partner seems to want elections at this time, a very senior coalition official said that this marked the "toughest crisis the coalition has faced since its inception. Gaps are wide and things don't look good.
"If we don't come up with a creative solution and no one shows some flexibility, we'll find ourselves facing new elections soon."
