NOT SO FAST: Yaakov Asher Says Chareidim Haven’t Been Consulted as Left Suddenly Embraces Draft Compromise

NOT SO FAST: Yaakov Asher Says Chareidim Haven’t Been Consulted as Left Suddenly Embraces Draft Compromise

United Torah Judaism chairman MK Yaakov Asher responded Friday to the growing willingness of Israeli opposition politicians to compromise on legislation governing the military draft of yeshiva bochurim, welcoming their sudden flexibility while making clear that the chareidi parties have not agreed to join any coalition headed by the anti-Netanyahu bloc. Asher’s remarks followed statements by Yisrael Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Lieberman and other opposition figures indicating that they would consider concessions on the draft issue to facilitate the establishment of a government without Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. “It is encouraging to discover the flexibility of all the political players on the draft issue,” Asher said, reacting to the apparent change in position among politicians who have spent years opposing the chareidi parties’ demands. However, Asher also questioned why the same willingness to compromise had been absent throughout the prolonged political battles over the status of yeshiva students. “It is painful to think how much incitement and hatred between brothers could have been avoided had that same flexibility been demonstrated in recent years,” he said. The United Torah Judaism chairman then addressed mounting speculation that the chareidi parties might be prepared to enter a government led by Gadi Eisenkot, particularly if an acceptable draft law could be negotiated. Drawing on this week’s parsha, Chayei Sarah, Asher offered a pointed response to those already discussing a possible political partnership. “In this week’s parsha, when the shidduch between Yitzchok and Rivka is being arranged, the posuk says: ‘Let us call the girl and ask her opinion,'” Asher observed. “It would be appropriate to remember that when discussing political shidduchim that have not yet been proposed to one of the parties,” he added. His comments were directed at the increasingly public discussion of a possible coalition agreement with the chareidi parties, despite the absence of any formal proposal or approval from their leadership. Asher further emphasized that even if coalition negotiations eventually produce an offer acceptable to United Torah Judaism’s political representatives, the final decision will rest with the Gedolei Yisroel. “And of course, every proposal will first be brought for the decision of the ‘mechutanim’ — the Gedolei Hador, shlita,” he said. The remarks come amid a significant shift in Lieberman’s position. The Yisrael Beiteinu chairman has indicated that he is prepared to abandon his longstanding refusal to negotiate with the chareidi parties, provided the resulting government excludes Netanyahu and does not depend on parliamentary support from Ra’am or the Joint List. Lieberman has also called for the formation of a 61-seat coalition without the Arab parties, suggesting that additional Likud lawmakers might eventually join such a government. His willingness to compromise on the draft has opened the possibility of negotiations that would have been politically unthinkable only weeks ago. The change has already drawn criticism from Yoaz Hendel, chairman of the Reservists Party, who accused Lieberman of abandoning his commitments to military reservists in pursuit of political power. Meanwhile, Democrats Party chairman Yair Golan reported progress in coalition discussions, saying negotiating teams from his party and Eisenkot’s Yashar faction had met several times during the week. For now, however, Asher’s remarks leave the question of chareidi participation unresolved. Although he did not reject negotiations with the anti-Netanyahu bloc, he made clear that no coalition proposal has yet been presented to United Torah Judaism and that any eventual agreement would require the approval of the Gedolei Hador. {Matzav.com}