Shas and UTJ deny reaching deal with Netanyahu over pre-election legislation

Shas and United Torah Judaism deny reports that they have reached a deal with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to advance their legislative agenda in exchange for supporting coalition priorities.

In a joint statement, the two ultra-Orthodox factions state that “contrary to reports, there is no ‘deal’ with Prime Minister Netanyahu. Our demand to advance the Basic Law: Torah Study and the law preventing the arrest of Torah scholars stands on its own, is not contingent on anything, and we have not given up on any demand.”

“To the extent that we see these laws are being practically advanced, we will be able to resume voting in favor of coalition legislation, in accordance with the instructions of the Torah sages,” the two parties add.

In a previous statement sent less than an hour ago, the two parties indicated that Netanyahu had committed to the immediate advancement of the Basic Law: Torah Study and legislation halting the detention of ultra-Orthodox draft evaders.

“Today we held a meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and conveyed to him on behalf [of our rabbinic leadership] an unequivocal demand to immediately advance the Basic Law on Torah Study and the law to stop the arrests of Torah students, by convening the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee and the Knesset House Committee this week,” the two parties stated.

“We made it clear that if we do not see practical actions as we demanded, we will support dissolving the Knesset as early as next week. The prime minister clarified during the meeting that he is committed to the approval of these laws and will work toward their rapid advancement.”

The initial statement did not mention the so-called Daycare Law, aimed at restoring daycare subsidies to the children of draft evaders, indicating that the Haredi parties had likely given up on legislation which until now has been one of their highest priorities.