Senior officials in Shas and United Torah Judaism were reportedly stunned over the weekend after learning that Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu is considering dissolving the Knesset as early as this week without advancing any of the major pieces of legislation sought by the chareidi parties, including the Daycare Subsidy Law, the Arrests Law, and the proposed Basic Law protecting Torah study, Matzav.com has learned.

The development has triggered deep frustration within the chareidi political camp, with some senior figures privately acknowledging what they view as a complete failure to secure their legislative priorities before the government heads to elections.

According to party insiders, Shas leaders had hoped that even if the controversial Daycare Subsidy Law could not be passed, Netanyahu would still advance Shas chairman Aryeh Deri’s proposed Arrests Law, along with the Basic Law on Torah Study. However, reports emerging overnight indicated that Netanyahu has already begun preparing for a rapid dissolution of the Knesset without bringing any of those measures to a vote.

“We no longer have anything with which to threaten him,” one senior chareidi official said. “The moment United Torah Judaism agreed to elections on October 20, as Netanyahu requested, we lost our leverage. We were left with nothing, and now he is the one deciding when the Knesset will be dissolved.”

The growing sense of disappointment has led some chareidi lawmakers to openly question their political strategy during the current coalition.

Another senior figure expressed sharp frustration with the outcome.

“We failed in everything. We have nothing to show our voters. We failed. Even in our final attempt we failed. What are we supposed to go into an election with? Netanyahu played us and played us, and we followed him like a blind goat.”

The anger comes after Netanyahu informed coalition leaders last week that the Daycare Subsidy Law would not pass during the current Knesset session because of opposition from coalition rebels.

That announcement sparked outrage among chareidi lawmakers, who viewed the move as a violation of coalition commitments. In response, Degel HaTorah chairman MK Moshe Gafni announced that his party’s representatives on the Knesset Finance Committee would vote against all budgetary transfers.

Degel HaTorah issued a strongly worded statement insisting that Netanyahu and Likud had explicitly committed to passing the legislation.

“There was a commitment by the prime minister and Likud to bring the Daycare Subsidy Law for approval. We insist on this firmly and will not accept any delay or retreat from that commitment.”

Agudas Yisrael issued a similar warning, arguing that failure to pass the law would signal that Netanyahu had already decided to bring down the government.

“Failure to pass the law means an admission by the prime minister that he has definitively chosen to dissolve the Knesset and go to elections.”

Adding to the uncertainty, political commentator Amit Segal reported Saturday night that senior coalition officials have been increasing pressure on Netanyahu to dissolve the Knesset immediately rather than wait several more weeks.

According to the report, coalition figures have warned the prime minister that continued delays could allow disputes over chareidi legislation to become an even greater political liability.

“The longer you delay, the more the chareidi legislation will hurt you. It is better for you to dissolve the Knesset this week and move into a caretaker government.”

Despite the mounting pressure, Netanyahu has reportedly not yet made a final decision regarding the exact timing of the Knesset’s dissolution. The prime minister is said to be weighing competing political considerations while deciding how to proceed.

{Matzav.com}