How Netanyahu dealt with the Katz vs. Haredim crisis

One important thing was proven this weekend- the PM doesn’t go against the Chief Rabbis. Even if the whole process was only intended for destruction or at least a mortal blow to the MK Yisrael Katz, Whatever the political considerations may be, they cannot undermine the power of the PMs decision, which was made as a result of the Chief Rabbi David Lau’s ruling that the labor planned for Sabbat is not Pikuach Nefesh.

It is hard to assess whether Netanyahu, since his conversation with the Haredi journalists, during which he understood from the Yated editor Rabbi Yisrael Friedman, that the issue of the train Chilul Shabbat and the Transportation Ministry will not be accepted, had the entire process planned from the start, but there is no doubt that he has been working towards the extinction of the transportation ministers’ status.

“Israel will be Michalel Shabbat? Never…” Netanyahu said, whether in cynicism or with sarcasm. He promised to take care of the matter. He promised and came through, and minutes before Shabbat he canceled the work planned for train construction and caused a transportation commotion that has already been called “chaos” even before it has begun.

The Haredi representatives, who are now dealing with the effects of the situation, it seems have been attacked with no justification, mostly by elements who have reason to bring about the liquidation of the coalition. If we take a look at the harshest critics, we will see the motives behind. Usually, these will be the ones who have reason to bring about Netanyahu’s downfall, they have been fighting a years’ long battle against the PM. This time, successfully, using the Haredi media.

It is important to remember how the transportation crisis actually came about. Maklev, as the Haredi factions’ representative in this matter, who has turned to the transportation ministry in formal letters- dealt with this issue until he realized that he was being misled and ridiculed, he involved the ministers Deri, Litzman and the chairman of the financial committee Gafni.

Together the threesome turned to Katz. They understood he is still deriding them despite his explicit commitment to meet with the Haredim. They went on to speak to PM Netanyahu who did not fully respond to the Haredi request last week, somewhat reducing the Chilul Shabbat, however leaving the main construction done in Tel Aviv as planned. Was it his original plan to create an explosion between the Hareidi sector and Minister Katz? Possibly, yet nevertheless, he couldn’t expect the full-blown news conference that took place on Motzei Shabbat, that angered the Haredi representatives.

Over the past week, ministers Litzman and Bennet informed at the first CEO sitting focused on the topic of Chilul Chabbat through the train construction, since there is no “Pikuach Nefesh” to allow working on Shabbat. They demanded an absolute break. Was this demand coordinated with the PMs office? An interesting question.

At the second sitting, by which it was decided, again, to decrease the amount of work done on Shabbat, following the disclosure that most could be done any other date, there were still a few points which the “Rakevet Israel” people claimed are “Pikuach Nefesh”.

No Haredi representative threatened at this point to leave the government, but their past declarations were still felt throughout, that they expect the PM to stop the Chilul Shabbat. Meanwhile, the headlines started that Netanyahu is hurting soldiers.

On Friday, a message came from the Rabbanut followed by a letter from the Chief Rabbi, prohibiting the train work on Shabbat and clarifying that there is no Pikuach Nefesh involved. Did the PMs office play around with the Chief Rabbis’ ruling behind the scenes? Hard to believe. Although there are some signs pointing to elements standing somewhere between politics and the Rabbanut in Shas, who naturally were in on the facts and took control of the process.

Why did the PM wait until minutes before Shabbat? The official explanation states that Netanyahu only discovered the extent Katz was lying. The greatest deception is that work on the train is going to take a break for the next eight days. Work considered “Pikuach Nefesh” could be done then, the PMs office argued. It can only be that minister Katz chose knowingly to create a crisis between the PM and the Haredim as a tool to destroy the coalition.

Will the public criticism hurt the PM, or with his great finesse, can he manage to redirect it into two tracks- the Haredim and Yisrael Katz, while he gains all around? This is the current political question being tested. In the ethical question, Netanyahu, in our view as Hareidim, has succeeded.

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