Rabbi Dov Landau, the leader of the Lithuanian Haredi community, instructed Haredi MKs not to advance any legislation until the government passes the Basic Law: Torah Study and the bill canceling arrests of draft evaders, according to Israel Hayom.
Rabbi Dov Landau, the preeminent leader of the Lithuanian Haredi community, issued a direct instruction to Haredi Knesset members Monday evening: do not vote for any law until the government passes the Basic Law: Torah Study and the bill canceling arrests of draft evaders, according to a report by Israel Hayom's Yaakov Hershkovitz.
The directive marks a significant escalation in the Haredi coalition's campaign to secure legislative protection for yeshiva students from military conscription. The Zioneer has reported extensively on the standoff: Shas chairman Aryeh Deri and United Torah Judaism announced earlier that they would block all coalition legislation unless the two laws advanced. Coalition leaders reached an agreement in principle to pass the laws before the Knesset disperses, but the legislative timetable remains unclear.
The instruction from Rabbi Landau, the authoritative voice of the Lithuanian Haredi world, effectively removes room for compromise and raises the stakes for Prime Minister Netanyahu's coalition, which relies on Haredi support. It remains to be seen whether the government will meet the demand or face a legislative paralysis.
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- DevelopingCoalition leaders agree: Basic Law Torah Study and freeze on draft-dodger arrests to pass before Knesset disperses
- DevelopingHaredi source: draft-evader arrest-freeze bill stands alone, not tied to Torah Study Basic Law
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