BICOM

The ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism (UTJ) Party is reported to be considering leaving the coalition over plans to enforce secular education in the ultra-Orthodox school system and a recent Supreme Court ruling over access to ritual baths.

UTJ has six Knesset members and with the government enjoying just a single-seat majority in parliament, the coalition finds itself vulnerable to any change in its composition. UTJ and the government’s other ultra-Orthodox party Shas, have often prioritised issues which impact their community rather than wider national affairs.

UTJ MK Yisrael Eichler told the Knesset Channel yesterday that his party had two bones of contention which if unresolved could see the faction quit the government. He demanded new legislation to override recent regulations which require ultra-Orthodox schools to teach secular subjects, rather than allowing them to focus almost entirely on religious education.

He also said that, “We will leave the coalition if the court decision allowing the Reform to use ritual baths for their ceremonies is not overturned” before the Jewish festival of Passover next month. The Supreme Court recently ruled that ritual baths in Israel operated by the publicly-funded rabbinical authorities must allow the Reform and Conservative Jewish movements to conduct conversion ceremonies in these facilities. Many ultra-Orthodox Jews do not recognise these as valid conversions. Eichler alleged that, “There is pressure on the Prime Minister and ministers in the government by Reform sponsors.”

However, Eichler’s position appeared out of step with party leader Ya’akov Litzman MK, who told Makor Rishon over the weekend that he hopes to see the government complete its full term.

Meanwhile, Likud MK Oren Hazan also threatened to destabilise the coalition. Hazan has been a controversial figure since his election last year and was last week banned by his party from sitting on the Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee for failing to appear for relevant Knesset votes. He told Radio 103FM that he considers himself no longer bound by coalition discipline.