Netanyahu to ultra-Orthodox partners: “Elections now would be a mistake — we will complete the draft-exemption law”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Thursday with lawmakers from United Torah Judaism (UTJ), the ultra-Orthodox Haredi party, to discuss the draft-exemption bill. The previous night, he also met with Religious Zionism minister Ofir Sofer, who has publicly declared he will oppose the legislation.
Netanyahu told the Haredi MKs that “elections at this time would be a mistake.” He added that the draft law “needs to be explained to the public” and said he believes that, in the end, no more than two or three coalition members will vote against it. “We must complete this legislation as soon as possible,” he said.
At the same time, the Religious Zionism party is expected to support the bill after consultations with its rabbinic leadership, despite internal opposition. Meanwhile, the ultra-Orthodox UTJ MKs have ended their voting boycott this week and resumed voting with the coalition.
Kan.org.il is the Hebrew news website of the The Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation
