“…If only a small portion of what is being directed against haredim was directed at the Arab sector the entire nation would be up in arms. Banning haredim from the coalition stems from pure racism!,” haredi MK Rabbi Yaakov Litzman reportedly shrieked. By some readings (including Litzman's) Litzman's bill would have made forming a coalition government without haredi parties who are willing to join it illegal.
Member of Knesset Rabbi Yaakov Litzman
Bizarre Bill To Make Haredim A Protected Class Fails First Knesset Reading
Shmarya Rosenberg • FailedMessiah.com
Several months ago, Member of Knesset Rabbi Yaakov Litzman from the Ashkenazi haredi United Torah Judaism Party proposed a bill that would make haredim a protected class and make discrimination against them illegal. The bill was worded in such a way as to construe political actions taken against haredi political parties – like keeping them out of a coalition government – as illegal.
Litzman’s bill made it to the floor of the Knesset this week for a preliminary vote.
Litzman tried to use alleged discrimination against haredim in workforce as a rationale to pass the bill but instead it was roundly defeated 43-11, Yeshiva World reported.
Before the vote, Litzman asserted that forming the current coalition government without haredi parties was “pure racism.”
“…If only a small portion of what is being directed against haredim was directed at the Arab sector the entire nation would be up in arms. Banning haredim from the coalition stems from pure racism!,” Litzman reportedly asserted.
Minister of Public Security Yitzchak Aharonovich responded on behalf pf the government.
“It appears this bill was only intended as entertainment. Whatever the case, the cabinet is opposed,” Aharonovich reportedly said.
Litzman and Yesh Atid MK Rabbi Dov Lipman reportedly got into a shouting match of sorts as Lipman challenged Litzman’s smears of the government and of Yesh Atid’s chairman, Finance Minister Yair Lapid.
“You should be ashamed of being aligned with Lapid!,” Litzman reportedly shrieked. He also insisted that Lapid did not want any ministers with beards – i.e., haredim – in his coalition.
Deputy Religious Services Minister Rabbi Eli Ben Dahan, who is Zionist Orthodox, has a large untrimmed beard and Lipman, while not a minister, is in Lapid’s party, has a beard and is a moderate haredi.