Charedi Rabbanim Block Knesset Dissolution, Grant Netanyahu One-Week Reprieve Amid IDF Enlistment Compromise Talks

An expected government shutdown was almost certainly avoided Wednesday night, as Hagaon Harav Moshe Hillel Hirsch shlita and Hagaon Harav Dov Lando shlita told UTJ lawmakers to not vote in support of dissolving the Knesset.

The decision was made hours after a meeting between UTJ, Shas and MK Yuli Edelstein, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.

Sources close to the talks described the atmosphere to Hebrew media outlets as constructive, with both sides showing a readiness to compromise and move forward.

A Charedi official close with UTJ told Belaaz that Charedi lawmakers left Rabbi Yitzchak Goldknopf all alone and made a compromise to keep the government running. “History will remember the Charedi members of Knesset who agreed to impose sanctions on lomdei Torah and bring about the closure of the Torah world,” the official said.C

However, the decision of the two Gedolei Yisrael was to grant Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu another week to come to an agreement, not to make any immediate concessions.

At the conclusion of the discussions, Edelstein’s spokesperson stated, “We are close to reaching an agreement. There will most likely not be a vote tonight on dissolving the Knesset.”

Throughout the evening, Charedi lawmakers intermittently stepped out of the meeting to brief leading Rabbanjm on the progress of the talks. According to insiders, these consultations were aimed at laying the groundwork for either a formal compromise or at minimum, a one-week delay in the vote.

It is not clear if Opposition will advance the vote if an agreement on the enlistment law is reached, but without the Charedi parties there will almost certainly not be enough votes to dissolve the government. Should a dissolution vote fail, the Opposition will not be able to advance another such bill for six months.