The hareidi parties are embittered, and the religious public in general is very apprehensive, following the announcement of the ministerial portfolios to be granted to the ultra-secularist Shinui party. Shinui leader Tommy Lapid will be Justice Minister; Interior - Avraham Poraz; Infrastructures - Yosef Paritzky; Environment - Yehudit Naot; and Science - Modi Zandberg.
Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef of Shas had very sharp words for both Ariel Sharon and the National Religious Party for their roles in bringing Shinui into the government. He predicted that the new government will not last long, but that until then every effort must be made to preserve Shas' educational network, El HaMa'yan. United Torah Judaism spokesmen had strong words for the NRP, calling party leader Effie Eitam "Minister of Destruction of Judaism." MK Yisrael Eichler (UTJ) said that the NRP banded together with "those who caused G-d to be hated" to take resources from those who study Torah and impoverished children.
Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef of Shas had very sharp words for both Ariel Sharon and the National Religious Party for their roles in bringing Shinui into the government. He predicted that the new government will not last long, but that until then every effort must be made to preserve Shas' educational network, El HaMa'yan. United Torah Judaism spokesmen had strong words for the NRP, calling party leader Effie Eitam "Minister of Destruction of Judaism." MK Yisrael Eichler (UTJ) said that the NRP banded together with "those who caused G-d to be hated" to take resources from those who study Torah and impoverished children.