Report: Bennett aide met Haredi leader to discuss possible deal to topple government

Sam Sokol is the Times of Israel's political correspondent. He was previously a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Haaretz. He is the author of "Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews"

A report says Shalom Shlomo, who served as former prime minister Naftali Bennett’s cabinet secretary, met recently with Motti Babchik, a senior adviser to Housing Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf, to discuss a potential deal on ultra-Orthodox conscription, if Haredi parties topple the government.

According to Channel 13, the pair discussed a deal to bring down the government by blocking the passage of the 2025 state budget, in exchange for Bennett passing a conscription law more amendable to the ultra-Orthodox politicians — who are working to block the mass conscription of their constituents.

Babchik, a prominent member of the Gur Hasidic group, carries significant influence in ultra-Orthodox circles. He was previously an aide to former UTJ chief Yaakov Litzman. Babchik maintains relationships with political figures across the spectrum, with the leaders of National Unity, Otzma Yehudit and New Hope attending the wedding of the Hasidic powerbroker’s daughter last September, joining then-defense minister Yoav Gallant and Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana.

A spokesman for Bennett denies the report, telling Channel 13 that there were “absolutely” no talks and that the Haredim need to be “drafted immediately.” Shlomo also dismisses the report, stating that he was “not conducting any negotiations. My meetings are not about politics.”

In a statement, Goldknopf’s office calls the report “fake news,” insisting that “there was no meeting” between Babchik and Shlomo “regarding the draft law or the overthrow of the government.”

“On December 1, a meeting was held at the Construction Ministry with [Histadrut labor federation chief] Arnon Bar David and a number of professional figures, in which Shalom Shlomo was present on behalf of the Histadrut and dealt only with professional issues. Beyond that, there was no meeting between the two,” Goldknopf’s bureau states.

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