The hareidi parties are embittered, and the religious public in general is very apprehensive, following the finalization of the agreement between the ultra-secularist Shinui party and the Likud. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is likely to present his new government, consisting of Shinui, the National Religious Party, and possibly the National Union and/or Am Echad, this Thursday. 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 would 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.
UTJ and Shas even took the extreme step this afternoon of removing the MKs of the NRP from the religious lobby in the Knesset.
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 would 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.
UTJ and Shas even took the extreme step this afternoon of removing the MKs of the NRP from the religious lobby in the Knesset.