MK Moshe Gafni (United Torah Judaism) announced Monday evening that he will not allow any coalition votes in the Knesset plenum until the bill to freeze arrests of yeshiva draft evaders passes, N12's Amit Segal reports. The ultimatum escalates the ongoing coalition crisis over Haredi conscription legislation.
MK Moshe Gafni (United Torah Judaism) announced Monday evening that he is halting all coalition votes in the Knesset plenum until the arrest-freeze bill for yeshiva draft evaders is approved, according to N12's Amit Segal. The ultimatum escalated a coalition crisis that had already halted the Knesset plenum earlier in the evening.
The crisis began after the Knesset passed the Basic Law: Torah Study in its final reading at 21:56 Jerusalem, with 63 MKs in favor and 52 opposed. Immediately, Haredi parties threatened to block all coalition votes unless the arrest-freeze bill was the next legislation brought to the plenum, as The Zioneer reported at 21:56 Jerusalem. Religious Zionism simultaneously demanded its own bill be prioritized, leading to the plenum being halted. Gafni's announcement hours later formalized the Haredi position.
The arrest-freeze bill has been a flashpoint in the coalition for weeks, with earlier crises over the daycare funding bill, as The Zioneer reported on June 15 and June 17. On June 21, Prime Minister Netanyahu convened coalition heads to secure a majority for the bill, but support remained fragile. Earlier Monday evening, The Zioneer reported that Haredi coalition supporters were wavering after a letter from the IDF Chief of Staff opposing the bill.
The coalition's ability to advance the arrest-freeze bill remains uncertain, given opposition from Religious Zionism and internal divisions. The Knesset plenum is expected to reconvene later tonight.
8 developments
- DevelopingMK Porush reveals coalition agreement with legal counsel on detention law vote
- StrongUnited Torah Judaism joins Shas in blocking coalition legislation unless draft-evader arrests end and Torah study Basic Law passes
- StrongNetanyahu convenes coalition heads Tuesday to secure majority for draft-evader arrest freeze
- DevelopingMK Meir Porush calls to advance daycare bill to final approval
Source and signal
- Internal intake