Degel HaTorah MKs abstained from voting on two no-confidence
motions on Monday of this week since no progress has been
made on any of the points listed in the coalition agreement
signed between UTJ and the Likud.
Both Shas' no-confidence motion to protest the rise in the
price of milk and the NRP's no-confidence motion over "the
government's organized and planned campaign to de-legitimize
the settlers in Judea, Samaria and Gaza," were in any case
rejected by a majority based on coalition votes.
MK Rabbi Avrohom Ravitz delivered a strident speech in which
he explained why he and fellow Degel HaTorah MK, Rabbi Moshe
Gafni, were abstaining. "We entered the coalition out of a
consideration for and concern over the issue of Jewish
identity and religious services, in order to return these
matters to their former pedestal following two years of
neglect and harm to them. We set a timetable but nothing has
happened. In the 14 days since the new coalition was set up
several things were supposed to happen. The Religious Council
workers and rabbonim were supposed to receive their salaries
— but they have not been paid. Mikvo'os have
been closed. Nobody has been appointed to run religious
services in the State of Israel despite the commitment to do
this. Thus there is not even anyone to complain to.
"The completion of construction of mikvo'os is being
delayed and this is no longer a matter of money but of
bureaucracy. In cemeteries, due to the winter conditions and
the rains, bodies are being subjected to terrible disregard
for the honor of the dead and there is nobody to turn to.
There was a commitment to attend to the matter and the matter
has not been addressed.
"Likewise in the matter of kindergartens for the chareidi
public, which were discriminated against compared to all
other kindergartens in Israel, a commitment was made to take
care of the matter and it was not taken care of. In the
chareidi sector, kindergarten teachers were denied 15 percent
of their salaries without any real justification. Not only
has the matter not be taken care of, but the Education
Ministry has not even received a directive to take care of
the matter. Tomorrow is payday, and the amounts will be
according to the old arrangement, with the objectionable and
discriminating cut.
"When we sign an agreement we vote as stipulated even if at
times this may be hard for us, because we are obligated by
the agreement and we honor agreements. But an agreement must
be mutual. Therefore, due to all of the above and in the name
of the harm to yaldei Yisroel through the increase in
the price of milk, we abstained from voting on the no-
confidence motion. But we still have not voted in favor of a
no-confidence motion. So do not push us into a corner, for
from there it will already be past a point of no return."
When Shas Chairman MK Eli Yishai explained the reasons behind
his party's no-confidence motion, he waved a bag of milk from
the podium and the members of his party did the same from
their seats. The Knesset Chairman immediately told the
attendants to collect the bags. As he handed his bag of milk
to an attendant, MK Yishai said, "Poraz' cats will drink
milk, even chocolate milk, but here people don't understand
that many people collect food from trash bins. Those who do
not know what I am talking about are detached from the
people. The chutzpah has exceeded all bounds. Cuts are being
made on every side. The price of bread is rising, the price
of fuel oil is rising, the price of milk is rising. These
people are simply being sent to collect food from trash
bins."
