'AG sends flowers to Gafni:' Coalition crisis resolved at last minute
A coalition crisis in Israel was narrowly averted after the United Torah Judaism party agreed to support a bill regarding the Attorney General's powers. The dispute centered on funding for haredi kindergarten teachers, which had threatened to derail the legislative agenda.
Why it matters
The resolution of this internal conflict highlights the fragile nature of coalition politics and the influence of religious parties on government policy.
A dispute broke out this evening (Wednesday) within the coalition over the bill to divide the powers of the Attorney General.
Minutes before the vote on the bill, it was reported that United Torah Judaism was threatening to vote against it unless the government advanced a decision to fund haredi kindergarten teachers.
United Torah Judaism conditioned its support for the bill on advancing the funding, while Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has raised objections and is unwilling to move the measure forward.
In response, the Religious Zionism Party issued a sharply worded statement against Degel HaTorah chairman Moshe Gafni. The party argued that opposing the bill would allow Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara to remain in her position without the changes the coalition seeks to implement.
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