UTJ deal ensures no religion and state changes

The coalition agreement being worked out between United Torah Judaism and the Likud parities will include a clause stipulating that changes made to the status quo on religion and state during the course of the government, such as court decisions, can be changed in legislation by the coalition.

The agreement also gives three ministerial positions to Shas, one to UTJ as well as chairmanship of the powerful Knesset Finance Committee and two other Knesset committees.

The clause is significant since the courts ruled on several occasions during the last government on such issues such as access to mikvaot (ritual baths) and kashrut, leading to legislation by the ultra-Orthodox parties to circumvent these rulings, at least one of which was successfully passed.

During the three election campaigns, Blue and White made numerous promises on reforming the religion and state status quo but its agreement with the Likud makes no mention of such issues.

One issue which may shortly come up in the new government is the new Shabbat public transportation systems which Tel Aviv and other cities in the central district have been operating in recent months through loopholes in the law.

UTJ and Shas could seek to close these loopholes in the new government under the cover of the clause allowing to amend “damage” to the status quo.

UTJ’s agreement will see outgoing Health Minister Ya’acov Litzman become Housing and Construction minister, while senior UTJ MK Moshe Gafni will regain his position as head of the Knesset Finance Committee, which has considerable powers to direct or halt the flow of state funding. UTJ will also have a deputy minister position which could be either in the education or transportations ministries and could be taken by MK Meir Porush, the current deputy education minister or MK Uri Maklev.