Rabbinical throne games • rift between Shas and United Torah Judaism

A few hours after the new government was sworn in, called by the Haredi delegates 'evil government', and this morning (Tues.), instead of rallying around the struggle against the government - a rift occurred between the Haredi parties themselves, Shas and United Torah Judaism.

This was when the steering committee dealt with extending the law of tenure of chief rabbis, when the first stage is the extension of four months, a law passed last night at the cabinet meeting, and which passed all the readings in the Knesset later in the day.

Surprisingly, Shas representatives on the committee, Yaakov Margi and Yitzhak Vaknin, voted in favor, while representatives of United Torah Judaism, Moshe Gafni and Meir Porush - voted against it.

MK Moshe Gafni said during the vote: "Everutjomg which the Jewish Home will suggest - we'll be against." In response, MK Moti Yogev from the Jewish Home said, "Yesterday I was able to handle with Manpower to release and reject the recruitment of a Haredi boy from IDF service, you are up against that as well?" Gaffney startled, and made it clear that this was not the intention.

Officially none of the Haredi representatives will comment about the above rift, only that's lacking, a well-publicized fight between the Haredi parties. Shas, incidentally, would rather keep quiet about the issue, because of its sensitivity. "Vehamaskil ba'es hahi yidom," said one of the above to me, without identifying himself of course, lest he pay for it.

"When the Jewish Home boycotted the Haredi parties in the coalition, it's strange to see how Shas is partnering with them, and how to extend the tenure of Harav Amar, it is prepared for a deal that will support the candidacy of Rabbi Stav", said one of the representatives of United Torah Judaism, also without identifying himself.

"In a party in which there is not one head, anyone can hide from taking responsibility," he added, as he tells of his frustration that there is no one to talk to nowadays in the party."

'Degel' not satisfied

MK Yaakov Asher attacked in the Knesset the support of the law extending the term of the chief rabbis by four months, a law supported by Shas too.

"The dust hasn't settled after the new government was sworn in, the sounds of inconvenience from the new partnership between Bennett and Lapid have not silenced, and a deal has been struck up here which seeks to undermine the foundations of the institution of the Chief Rabbinate in the future. There is no more appropriate expression than "kosher but stinking" to describe the afikoman hidden behind this transaction. If your words are honest, we propose to extend the tenure of the chief rabbis by five years. I ask that you leave the handling of the Chief Rabbinate, to people who really care about the status of the chief rabbis. "

In his remarks , Asher hinted that the goal of extending by four months only is to 'fix' the choosing body to fit the "kosher but stinking" deal which was formed with the Jewish Home and according to which they will support extending the tenure of Rabbi Amar in return for the support of the electorate in the election of Rabbi David Stav.

MK Uri Maklev also attacked the above-mentioned law. "You promised a different politics, but your behavior is a great gig," he said from the Knesset podium, "How is it that the Jewish Home suddenly supports the law? Because the one who is going to take the place of the rabbis are people who identify with them. We will yet take down the mask of this hypocrisy," he said.

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!