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13 Ellul 5760 - September 13, 2000 | Mordecai Plaut, director Published Weekly
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Home and Family
Barak Wants to Press His Secular Revolution
by Yated Ne'eman Staff

Back from a week of unproductive meetings on the peace process in the U.S., Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak will make his plan to reform religious-secular ties the focus of his efforts. Barak is pessimistic about chances for an agreement with the Palestinians, which remains his preferred goal, and chances are also slim for his forming any sort of reasonable government.

At the same time, Barak faces mounting criticism from the religious community and from many within his party as well for his secularization plans. Other critics maintain that the plans are more election campaign rhetoric than government policy, since Barak's power base is so weak and the proposed reforms so ambitious.

In response, Barak announced that he supports establishing a "pact" that would be drawn up by various teams comprised of secular and religious figures. "The prime minister is determined to lead with the imperative steps to make Israel a modern state in the 21st century, while preserving its Jewish and Zionist character," said a statement released by the Prime Minister's Office. "This is not a struggle between religious and secular, this is not a revolution, but rather a mix of moving forward, Judaism, and social sensitivity."

Forming a government with the Likud as a partner is one of the options that is publicly debated. When asked what Barak would do if Sharon demanded that he backtrack from what was agreed upon at Camp David, a senior source said that Barak does not feel this has to be a hurdle, since "he has not given up anything. Nothing is in writing." However, Barak would certainly wait to form such a government until it becomes clear how the peace process is working out.

The fact that Meimad, the religious wing of One Israel, has threatened to leave because of the civil reform plan, shows clearly that so far little has been done to achieve any consent from the religious. Meimad is known for its willingness to compromise.

"Meimad represents the most advanced and moderate stream in religious Zionism," said Opher Pines-Paz, One Israel Knesset leader, "and the borders of civil progress must be borders acceptable to Meimad. Otherwise, it will not be possible to turn the nice words into actions in the field."

The following eight points are said by the Prime Minister's Office to be Barak's official civil-social agenda.

El Al flights on Shabbos; Regulations allowing marriage registration for those barred from marrying under halacha; Operating buses on Shabbos; Completion of a constitution; Removing the nationality clause from identity cards; Closing the Ministry of Religious Affairs; Creating a unified, compulsory educational curriculum; Imposing national service on all.

 

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