Rabbi Elyashiv
Photo: Haim Zach
UTJ gets rabbi's approval to join Netanyahu's government
During Jerusalem meeting, Rabbi Yosef Sholom Elyashiv gives ultra-Orthodox party's Knesset members green light to join Likud-led coalition after committee approves more flexibility on civil marriage
United Torah Judaism's way into Benjamin Netanyahu's government has been paved, Ynet learned Monday afternoon.
Rabbinical Court
Kobi Nahshoni
Spiritual leader of Lithuanian stream rules non-Jews can wed through civil marriage, but only after rabbinical court confirms both partners are not Jewish
The ultra-Orthodox party's Knesset members met with their Lithuanian leader, Rabbi Yosef Sholom Elyashiv, at his Jerusalem home. The rabbi approved the compromise on the issue of conversion and gave the MKs the green light to sign a coalition agreement with the Likud.
Should the party join the new government, one of its members may be appointed deputy health minister, and another will likely head the Knesset Finance Committee.
"The issues have not been resolved entirely, but certain progress was made during the meeting with the rabbi ahead of the continued negotiations with Likud," a UTJ member told Ynet.
The coalition talks between UTJ and Likud were slowed down after the Jewish movement's rabbis expressed their opposition to the understandings reached between Likud, Yisrael Beiteinu and Shas regarding civil marriage and conversion.
A special rabbinical committee ruled that UTJ could be more flexible on civil marriage, but Rabbi Elyashiv declared that Shas' compromise regarding the issue of conversion was unacceptable.
