Minister Ze’ev Elkin said the chances of passing the draft law in the current Knesset are “very low,” placing primary responsibility on lawmakers from Agudas Yisrael, during a wide-ranging interview addressing security developments in the north, the cancellation of the Meron Lag BaOmer gathering, and tensions within the chareidi sector.

Speaking in a studio interview with journalist Yishai Cohen, Elkin, a member of the security cabinet and the minister overseeing rehabilitation of Israel’s north, outlined the current situation along the Lebanon border and defended recent decisions made by the government.

At the start of the interview, Elkin addressed the ongoing security situation in the north, rejecting claims that a ceasefire is in effect. “First of all, it is clear that this is not a ceasefire because there is fire; it is ridiculous to deny the truth,” he said. “But why is Hezbollah firing? Because the IDF is operating. Despite the ceasefire, the IDF maintains a security zone and is dismantling terror infrastructure there. This is important activity, and Hezbollah is under pressure.”

Elkin acknowledged the difficulty facing residents in the region but said there are no easy alternatives. “I am there, I see the reality, it is not simple. The alternative is to withdraw forces and the firing will stop—but that means Hezbollah will return to southern Lebanon.”

He also addressed the controversy surrounding restrictions on access to Meron for Lag BaOmer, pushing back against criticism from Agudas Yisrael representatives. “I do not understand the anger. There is currently a war in the north. If Teddy Stadium were located next to the facilities we have in Meron, there would be no Teddy. The question is location and level of threat.”

“You can be angry at a government that wants to protect the citizens of Israel who want to go up to Meron, most of them supporters of MK Porush and others. Their lives are precious to us, and we do not want to endanger them. Hezbollah is not stupid; it knows there is a gathering and aims at the military facilities on the mountain. With all the pain, saving lives takes precedence over the Meron celebration.”

On the draft law, Elkin struck a pessimistic tone and directly blamed Agudas Yisrael lawmakers. “It is hard for me to see the law passing, certainly close to the end of the Knesset term. The main responsibility lies with the members of Knesset from AgudatsYisrael. For the thousandth time, they are making the mistake. Every time there was an opportunity for a reasonable compromise, they stood at the extreme and pushed to say no, and after two years they said, ‘what a mistake that we did not take it.’”

Elkin also warned the chareidi public against expectations of a better political outcome after elections. “Anyone who convinces himself that after the elections there will be a better coalition—what is the common ground between Bennett and Lapid besides hatred of Netanyahu? That is the whole issue for the chareidi public.”

Addressing recent incidents involving extremist protesters breaking into the home of a senior military police officer, Elkin strongly condemned the actions. “I strongly condemn this. Taking the law into your own hands and breaking into a private home? Where are we heading? Are there not enough crazy people in Kaplan? Will they start breaking into the homes of rabbis? Of right-wing politicians?”

When asked why chareidi lawmakers have remained largely silent, Elkin suggested they are also under pressure. “They also suffer from the force of the extremists; it may be that they are afraid to anger them. They too are under terror. The extremists are a minority, but they riot even against the leaders of the chareidi public themselves.”

In closing, Elkin addressed the emerging alliance between Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid. “It is a waste of Bennett’s time to say he is right-wing after joining with Lapid. This is an ‘alliance of the fearful.’ Bennett is deathly afraid that Eisenkot will gain strength. He understands he will either have 20 seats or zero; he does not have his own voter base. Therefore, he is willing to pay any price and gave Lapid nearly 50% of the list.”