Last-Minute Drama: Edelstein Changed the Draft Law Text, 'Degel HaTorah' Immediately Withdraws from Government
Edelstein submitted a law that is not acceptable to the Haredi leadership and on the instruction of Rabbi Dov Lando, the 'Degel HaTorah' faction withdrew from the coalition and governmentץ
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The 'Degel HaTorah' faction officially announced this evening its decision to withdraw from the coalition and government after the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, MK Yoel Yuli Edelstein, submitted a draft law text that is not agreed upon by the Haredi leadership.
Initially, the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, MK Yoel Yuli Edelstein, refused to submit the draft law text this evening and claimed he would present the text only later in the week, but the Chairman of 'Degel HaTorah', MK Moshe Gafni, made it clear to PM Benjamin Netanyahu that if the law text was not presented - the Lithuanian faction would withdraw this evening from the government and coalition.
Netanyahu, who came especially to the Knesset, met with Edelstein and pressured him to present the final text this evening, and indeed the 'Degel' Knesset members joined Netanyahu and Edelstein's meeting and received the final text.
Due to the presentation of the draft law text, 'Degel HaTorah' announced they would wait with immediate resignation from the government and would pass the law text to the decision of the great Torah scholars of Israel.
As recalled, earlier the full letter of the Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Dov Lando was published, which he wrote last night, after the fast of the 17th of Tammuz, to the Knesset members of 'Degel HaTorah', a letter in which he instructed them to immediately withdraw from the coalition.
In his letter, Rabbi Dov Lando wrote: "To the Knesset members of Degel HaTorah who are diligent in their devoted activity for Torah scholars, peace and abundant blessings.
"Since the governing authorities reveal their intention to increase the hardship of Torah scholars' lives in several ways and in attempts to humiliate and oppress them, and time after time they do not stand by their commitments to regulate the legal status of yeshiva students and dear Torah scholars, the crown of creation and the secret of its existence.
"Therefore, my opinion is that participation with the government and coalition should be ended immediately, including withdrawing at once from all positions involved in this, and may God save us quickly.
"Signed with pain and anxiety, after the fast of the fourth [day], 5785, Dov Lando."