On his way to the coalition? Gafni
Photo: Tzvika Tishler
Kadima lures UTJ to coalition with funding deal
Sides reach agreement regarding funds for families with five or more children, but disagreements remain on religion and state issue, as well as on jobs waiting for UTJ MKs should they join government
Progress was made Thursday in coalition talks between United Torah Judaism and Kadima, as the utra-othodox party sealed a funding deal for large families.
The sides reached an agreement to increase state allowances for large families, but disagreements remain on issues pertaining to religion and UTJ positions in the government.
A senior ultra-Orthodox source told Ynet that Justice Minister Haim Ramon and former Shas chairman Aryeh Deri mediated the dispute. According to the deal, UTJ would drop demands to receive NIS 3 billion (about USD 700 million) in funds that were cut in 2003 while the government will commit to allocating a monthly grant of NIS 500 (USD 113) to families with five children or more, in addition to the Social Security grant.
“The compromise offer is reasonable, but we have not yet examined it closely and it has not been presented to the rabbis who are supposed to decide on the matter,” UTJ MK Moshe Gafni said.
