The United Torah Judaism party took two major steps today towards active involvement in the State of Israel. Although the party was a member of government coalitions from the State's inception until 1953, it refused to take part in the government again until 1977. Even then, the party refused to accept a ministerial portfolio, explaining that it did not want to be so actively identified with a Jewish state that was not run according to Halakhah [Jewish law]. Today, however, MK Yaakov Litzman said that the party would likely accept a ministerial portfolio in the new government, "if the Council of Torah Sages so rules."
In addition, with the official resignation this morning of Jerusalem Mayor Ehud Olmert - he was sworn-in this afternoon as a Knesset Member of the Likud - his deputy, United Torah Judaism member Uri Lupoliansky, officially assumed the role of Acting Mayor of Jerusalem. This is not the first time Jerusalem has had a religious mayor. Shlomo Zalman Shragai and Yitzchak Kariv, of earlier versions of the NRP, preceded Lupoliansky circa the 1950's.
Lupoliansky has basically been running the capital over the past few months, following Olmert's run for a spot on the Likud Knesset list and as his national political activities took up more and more of his time. Lupoliansky announced today, after Olmert submitted his resignation to Interior Minister Eli Yeshai, that the capital's religious status quo would not change, and that he plans to be mayor for the orthodox and secular alike. Nevertheless, Shinui party leader Tommy Lapid was quick to announce that Lupoliansky's assumption of the post was yet another sign of "growing religious coercion" in Jerusalem.
In addition, with the official resignation this morning of Jerusalem Mayor Ehud Olmert - he was sworn-in this afternoon as a Knesset Member of the Likud - his deputy, United Torah Judaism member Uri Lupoliansky, officially assumed the role of Acting Mayor of Jerusalem. This is not the first time Jerusalem has had a religious mayor. Shlomo Zalman Shragai and Yitzchak Kariv, of earlier versions of the NRP, preceded Lupoliansky circa the 1950's.
Lupoliansky has basically been running the capital over the past few months, following Olmert's run for a spot on the Likud Knesset list and as his national political activities took up more and more of his time. Lupoliansky announced today, after Olmert submitted his resignation to Interior Minister Eli Yeshai, that the capital's religious status quo would not change, and that he plans to be mayor for the orthodox and secular alike. Nevertheless, Shinui party leader Tommy Lapid was quick to announce that Lupoliansky's assumption of the post was yet another sign of "growing religious coercion" in Jerusalem.