In a dramatic exchange during a high-level Shas rabbinic meeting, party chairman Aryeh Deri revealed that Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu had promised to resolve the issue of the chareidi draft law within the next three months. However, Rav Yitzchok Yosef appeared unconvinced.
During the gathering of the Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah, Deri shared details of Netanyahu’s assurance, saying, “The prime minister promised there will be a law within the next three months. We need to give him another chance.”
At that point, Rav Yosef interrupted, asking pointedly, “Where has he been until now? Do you believe him?”
Deri responded firmly: “Yes. He didn’t think it would come to this point of us leaving the government. Now he’ll do everything he can. We must give him this opportunity.”
Despite the discussion, the council ultimately ruled that Shas must exit the government due to the failure to pass a law formalizing the status of bnei yeshivos. As previously reported by Matzav.com, Shas ministers are expected to begin submitting their resignations.
However, the party clarified that it does not currently plan to oppose the coalition in a no-confidence vote, at least until after the Knesset’s summer recess. This leaves the door open for future legislative efforts to protect yeshiva students from conscription. Shas MKs will remain active in Knesset committees and have expressed willingness to support any potential hostage deal.
The formal statement from the Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah declared: “We instruct all representatives of Shas to immediately resign from their positions in the government. Sadly, under the current circumstances, it is no longer possible to sit in a government that allows bnei Torah to be trampled. At the same time, there must be no cooperation with leftist or opposition parties to install one of their own as prime minister—not even on an interim basis—as they were leaders in the vicious incitement against bnei Torah, and no sinner should be rewarded.”
The council further directed Aryeh Deri and all party representatives to persist in their efforts to advance legislation protecting yeshiva students: “The Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah calls upon the prime minister and all members of the coalition to uphold their agreements and pass the necessary law no later than the start of the winter session of the Knesset, so that the current government and coalition partnership can be sustained.”
Meanwhile, Shas MK Avraham Betzalel formally submitted his resignation from the Knesset in accordance with the party’s new direction.
{Matzav.com Israel}
