NRP leader Effie Eitam contested the claim today that his party is "boycotting" the coalition talks with the Likud. It had been reported earlier that the NRP representatives had decided not to attend today's scheduled session with the Likud in protest of the latter's refusal to grant the Education Ministry portfolio to the NRP in the next government. "We are not boycotting anything," Eitam told Arutz-7 today. "We met the Likud yesterday, but we feel that less can be accomplished in these frontal talks, and so we decided to try to work via different channels. Today I will be meeting with Tommy Lapid [leader of the anti-hareidi Shinui party], as we will leave no stone unturned in our quest for what we see as a true national unity government, one that has both Shinui and Shas. We are the bridge, the force whose function it is to do this. Just as we don't accept Shinui's disenfranchisement of Shas, we also don't accept the disqualification of Shinui. It must be remembered that Shinui is a strong force that represents a large sector, and that has strong claims against the religious public, and we must look at ourselves and ask how it is that so many people united against Torah values."
Arutz-7's Haggai Segal: "I understand from this that you will support Shinui's bid to demand the conscription of all the Yeshiva students?"
Eitam: "Unquestionably not, there is nothing to talk about on that matter. We think, though, that the main thing is not how each side can arm-wrestle the other side, but how we can work together. Neither side can force the other, and even if we succeed in leaving Shinui and its 15 MKs in a corner of the opposition, and encounter them only in fervent and zealous speeches in the Knesset, we will not have fulfilled our task - which is to conduct dialogue..."
A-7: "But Tommy Lapid doesn't want to only talk; he did enough of that on Popolitica [the TV talk show that he hosted]. He wants to do things, such as open stores on Shabbat, and conduct civil marriages..."
Eitam: "Look, I will meet with him today. To a large extent, his only chances of entering the government are dependent on our agreement. I therefore want to check carefully what his goals are; if he simply wants to take an anti-religious stance on everything, then we have nothing to talk about. But nothing can be built solely out of negativity; if he has a such a strong force [15 MKs], it's a sign that he must have something positive there as well, not just to uproot the Jewish character of the State of Israel."
A-7: "Will you agree to sit in a government with Shinui and without Shas?"
Eitam: "We are making a supreme effort in order not to have to make a decision on this question. If it comes to that, however, then our party organs will convene and decide."
Earlier today, Shinui officials released pessimistic statements about prospects of joint government membership by Shinui and the National Religious Party. A major issue of contention between them is that of the annual military deferments enjoyed by full-time yeshiva students. Shinui demands that the newly-legislated Tal Law - which legalizes and governs the exemptions - be nullified, while the NRP insists that all changes be made in an atmosphere of understanding and agreement.
The Tal Law, passed last summer by a 51-41 vote, allows full-time yeshiva students to study Torah until the age of 22, at which time they will have the opportunity to spend a year working or undergoing vocational training. After that year, they will have three choices: 12-18 months of national service and then the freedom to enter the workforce; army service for a period of time in accordance with their family status (four months for married men with two or more children, up to 2.5 years for those who are not married); or to return to yeshiva. The law will be in effect for five years, beginning this month.
Meanwhile, the Likud and National Union are reporting significant progress in their coalition talks. A concluding meeting is set for next week. No other party has yet reached such an advanced stage in the negotiations.
Arutz-7's Haggai Segal: "I understand from this that you will support Shinui's bid to demand the conscription of all the Yeshiva students?"
Eitam: "Unquestionably not, there is nothing to talk about on that matter. We think, though, that the main thing is not how each side can arm-wrestle the other side, but how we can work together. Neither side can force the other, and even if we succeed in leaving Shinui and its 15 MKs in a corner of the opposition, and encounter them only in fervent and zealous speeches in the Knesset, we will not have fulfilled our task - which is to conduct dialogue..."
A-7: "But Tommy Lapid doesn't want to only talk; he did enough of that on Popolitica [the TV talk show that he hosted]. He wants to do things, such as open stores on Shabbat, and conduct civil marriages..."
Eitam: "Look, I will meet with him today. To a large extent, his only chances of entering the government are dependent on our agreement. I therefore want to check carefully what his goals are; if he simply wants to take an anti-religious stance on everything, then we have nothing to talk about. But nothing can be built solely out of negativity; if he has a such a strong force [15 MKs], it's a sign that he must have something positive there as well, not just to uproot the Jewish character of the State of Israel."
A-7: "Will you agree to sit in a government with Shinui and without Shas?"
Eitam: "We are making a supreme effort in order not to have to make a decision on this question. If it comes to that, however, then our party organs will convene and decide."
Earlier today, Shinui officials released pessimistic statements about prospects of joint government membership by Shinui and the National Religious Party. A major issue of contention between them is that of the annual military deferments enjoyed by full-time yeshiva students. Shinui demands that the newly-legislated Tal Law - which legalizes and governs the exemptions - be nullified, while the NRP insists that all changes be made in an atmosphere of understanding and agreement.
The Tal Law, passed last summer by a 51-41 vote, allows full-time yeshiva students to study Torah until the age of 22, at which time they will have the opportunity to spend a year working or undergoing vocational training. After that year, they will have three choices: 12-18 months of national service and then the freedom to enter the workforce; army service for a period of time in accordance with their family status (four months for married men with two or more children, up to 2.5 years for those who are not married); or to return to yeshiva. The law will be in effect for five years, beginning this month.
Meanwhile, the Likud and National Union are reporting significant progress in their coalition talks. A concluding meeting is set for next week. No other party has yet reached such an advanced stage in the negotiations.