Moshe Gafni and Uri Maklev prepare to leave Israel's Knesset
In Israel, Moshe Gafni, leader of the Degel HaTorah faction in the Knesset, and Rabbi Uri Maklev are preparing to leave parliament. The office of Rabbi Dov Lando, the faction's spiritual leader, reported this on Saturday evening, The Jerusalem Post writes.
Lando sent Gafni and Maklev letters thanking them for their years of work. He cited the need to “renew” the party's representation in the Knesset as the reason for their departure. At the same time, Lando asked Gafni to remain party chairman.
The Degel HaTorah faction
Degel HaTorah is a faction of the ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism party. In recent months, Lando, Gafni, and the faction have drawn attention for supporting the “Basic Law: Torah Study” bill.
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The document states that Torah study is a fundamental value in the heritage of the Jewish people and in the State of Israel. The country has no constitution; instead, it has a series of Basic Laws adopted by the Knesset that have high legal status.
Legislative disputes
In July, the bill was adopted in its final reading: it was supported by 63 lawmakers, while 52 voted against it. In May, when ultra-Orthodox parties were trying to pass the document through parliament, Lando allowed members of his party to work toward dissolving the Knesset as quickly as possible over the bill on conscription of ultra-Orthodox Jews.
In a letter to Degel HaTorah lawmakers, Lando stated that they no longer trust Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and would act in the interests of ultra-Orthodox Judaism and the world of yeshivas. According to KAN News, United Torah Judaism threatened to initiate the dissolution of the Knesset after Netanyahu reported that there was no coalition majority to pass the conscription bill. Ultimately, parliament was not dissolved.
