Chareidi Parties: No Return to Government Without Draft Law and Clear Legislative Timeline

The morning after the ousting of MK Yoel (Yuli) Edelstein as chairman of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, the chareidi parties are making it clear: they will not return to the government unless a mutually agreed-upon draft law is introduced, along with a clear and binding timeline for its legislative progression.

Despite Edelstein’s removal and the appointment of Likud MK Boaz Bismuth as his replacement, leaders of Shas and United Torah Judaism have informed Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu that this move alone will not bring them back into the coalition.

In a message conveyed jointly by Shas and United Torah Judaism, the parties stated that while Edelstein’s dismissal was justified—due to what they described as his deceit toward the chareidi factions and his consistent obstruction of a consensus draft law—this step is not sufficient to prompt their return.

This comes amid media speculation that Shas chairman Aryeh Deri may be reconsidering a return to the government. However, Shas clarified overnight that such a move is not currently being considered.

Both Shas and UTJ emphasized that there will be no discussion of rejoining the government until a formal draft of the chok giyus—a new military draft bill—is placed on the table of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, accompanied by a set legislative timetable leading to its second and third readings in the Knesset.

The demand for a legislated draft framework was a key condition set by the chareidi parties when they dramatically exited the coalition. Edelstein’s reversal on previous agreements was cited as a breaking point.

In addition, chareidi representatives are closely monitoring reports of the IDF’s preparation for a large-scale arrest operation targeting yeshiva students who have not reported to the draft office. The parties are warning that should such arrests occur, as reportedly planned for next week, it would lead to their immediate withdrawal not only from government negotiations but from the coalition entirely.

{Matzav.com Israel}