Senior United Torah Judaism MK Uri Maklev cast doubt on Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s long-term commitment to the Chareidi parties, suggesting that after the next election he could instead try to build a coalition with Gadi Eisenkot. Maklev stressed that the Chareidi parties will act independently and do whatever best serves the Torah world.
Speaking in an interview with Kol Barama Radio, Maklev said he would not be surprised if Netanyahu’s first move after the election is to seek a governing coalition with Yashar chairman Gadi Eisenkot.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if Netanyahu’s first attempt is to form a government with [Yashar! chairman Gadi] Eisenkot,” Maklev said.
Maklev argued that Netanyahu’s primary concern is his own political future rather than loyalty to any ideological alliance, emphasizing that United Torah Judaism will make its own decisions based on the interests of the Chareidi community.
“Netanyahu first and foremost looks after Netanyahu – he is not committed to the bloc. As far as we’re concerned, we’ll do what’s best for us. We are a bloc of our own,” he added.
Addressing the emergence of new Chareidi political parties attempting to win support from the tzibbur, Maklev hinted that significant financial backing is fueling those efforts and suggested that the sources of that funding will eventually become public.
“The day will come when people will know where the big money is coming from. I know exactly where those funds are coming from. Once the facts are revealed, the public will understand, and there will be no need to keep talking about all these parties.”
Maklev also sharply criticized the Religious Zionism Party, accusing it of contributing to the growing public campaign against bnei yeshiva. He said the party’s position on combining Torah learning with military service has only intensified the controversy.
“When Religious Zionism says, ‘We don’t oppose Torah study, but you can do both,’ that is exactly the statement that created confusion and brought great incitement. As a party, Religious Zionism was the most problematic element within this coalition.”
Commenting on the law that temporarily froze the arrest of bnei yeshiva who had not complied with the draft, which was later struck down by Israel’s Supreme Court, Maklev defended the legislation and insisted that passing it had been the right decision.
“Passing the arrests law was not a mistake,” he said.
Maklev said the coalition always understood that the legislation would likely lead to a legal showdown with the Supreme Court, arguing that every time the court overturns a law passed by the Knesset, it further weakens its own public standing.
“We knew from the outset that we were heading for a confrontation with the Supreme Court. Every law that the Supreme Court strikes down only further undermines the legitimacy of the Supreme Court itself.”
{Matzav.com}