The negotiating teams for Likud and Yisrael Beiteinu have reached agreement on the need for passing a law that would keep people who betrayed the country from receiving state stipends, grants and other financial assistance. The law would apply to citizens convicted of espionage, treason or terror.
The law will be sponsored by the government and presented to the Knesset for ratification. Most laws that receive government sponsorship pass the Knesset easily.
In addition, the teams decided to give preferment to former IDF soldiers and people who served in the National Service in the allotment of land parcels.
No progress has been made with regard to Yisrael Beiteinu’s demands for reforms in matters of “Synagogue and State” – including enabling civil unions as a marriage alternative for non-Jewish and mixed (Jewish/non-Jewish) couples, as well as less stringent requirements for conversion into Judaism (giyur).
Yisrael Beiteinu chief Avigdor Lieberman met with the heads of the religious parties last week in an attempt to bridge the gaps on these issues. Shas expressed agreement to a compromise that would enable civil unions for non-Jewish couples. Chief Sephardic Rabbi Shlomo Amar formulated the compromise with the support of Shas spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef. However, United Torah Judaism reportedly does not like the compromise.