Deri says government’s religious reform is more dangerous than nuclear Iran

Shas leader Aryeh Deri says that the current government is more dangerous than a nuclear-armed Iran, according to reports.

In a closed meeting held today of the political parties Shas and United Torah Judaism, Haredi political leaders make harsh statements about the government’s planned reforms.

According to Walla, which received a recording of the event, Deri — a former minister — says that “I can say with certainty that the steps this government is taking to change the Jewish identity of the state are more dangerous than a nuclear Iran.”

UTJ leader Moshe Gafni says that there is a “culture war” going on in Israel, and therefore Haredi leaders should “not hold back from saying the harshest words or taking the strongest actions… we have to fight with all our might, take the gloves off. It’s a matter of life or death for the Jews.”

The ultra-Orthodox lawmakers are furious at the plans of the current government to push through major reforms in the areas of kosher certification and conversion, as well as efforts to return a planned expansion of egalitarian prayer at the Western Wall.