Justice Minister Tommy Lapid says he will not give in, neither will the NRP - and the coalition crisis seems headed to its bitter end.
The problems began last week when Prime Minister Ariel Sharon reneged on a promise he made to the National Religious Party, and decided that the Rabbinical Courts would come under the jurisdiction of the Justice Ministry. The Courts are currently an independent judicial body in the Religious Affairs Ministry, which is scheduled for dismantling by the end of the year.
NRP leaders said they plan to recommend that the party quit the coalition, unless the decision is changed. They, as well as the hareidi parties, the Chief Rabbis, and others, are up in arms at the idea of giving Justice Minister Lapid of the extremely anti-religious Shinui party authority over the religious court system. Some likened it to entrusting Palestinian Authority affairs in the hands of Tourism Minister Benny Elon, who stands for dismantling the PA, or giving control of the Defense Ministry to Arafat-confidant MK Ahmed Tibi. Minister Lapid makes no secret of his animosity for the religious establishment, and in fact welcomed the dismantling of the Religious Affairs Ministry as a "victory for the secular revolution."
Several compromise solutions are being floated regarding the future of the Chief Rabbinate. One of them stipulates that Lapid would have administrative control over the Rabbinical Courts, but would have no say in substantial matters such as the appointment of judges. Another idea, introduced by the National Union party, provides for a special authority to oversee the rabbinical courts, headed by the Prime Minister and the Justice Minister.
Sources in the Prime Minister's Office say that Lapid will have no choice but to compromise on this issue, in order to end the coalition crisis. Lapid himself still insists, however, that he will not cede any aspect of his authority over the rabbinical courts. If he prevails, the NRP's threat to quit the coalition next week is still very realistic.
Deputy Education Minister Tzvi Hendel, of the National Union party, said today that a fateful decision on the future of the Chief Rabbinate must not be made through "political arm wrestling." He said that his party will object to any proposal on the restructuring of the rabbinical courts and religious services that is not acceptable to the Chief Rabbis. The decision to transfer the Rabbinical Courts to the Justice Ministry must be passed by the Knesset.
The problems began last week when Prime Minister Ariel Sharon reneged on a promise he made to the National Religious Party, and decided that the Rabbinical Courts would come under the jurisdiction of the Justice Ministry. The Courts are currently an independent judicial body in the Religious Affairs Ministry, which is scheduled for dismantling by the end of the year.
NRP leaders said they plan to recommend that the party quit the coalition, unless the decision is changed. They, as well as the hareidi parties, the Chief Rabbis, and others, are up in arms at the idea of giving Justice Minister Lapid of the extremely anti-religious Shinui party authority over the religious court system. Some likened it to entrusting Palestinian Authority affairs in the hands of Tourism Minister Benny Elon, who stands for dismantling the PA, or giving control of the Defense Ministry to Arafat-confidant MK Ahmed Tibi. Minister Lapid makes no secret of his animosity for the religious establishment, and in fact welcomed the dismantling of the Religious Affairs Ministry as a "victory for the secular revolution."
Several compromise solutions are being floated regarding the future of the Chief Rabbinate. One of them stipulates that Lapid would have administrative control over the Rabbinical Courts, but would have no say in substantial matters such as the appointment of judges. Another idea, introduced by the National Union party, provides for a special authority to oversee the rabbinical courts, headed by the Prime Minister and the Justice Minister.
Sources in the Prime Minister's Office say that Lapid will have no choice but to compromise on this issue, in order to end the coalition crisis. Lapid himself still insists, however, that he will not cede any aspect of his authority over the rabbinical courts. If he prevails, the NRP's threat to quit the coalition next week is still very realistic.
Deputy Education Minister Tzvi Hendel, of the National Union party, said today that a fateful decision on the future of the Chief Rabbinate must not be made through "political arm wrestling." He said that his party will object to any proposal on the restructuring of the rabbinical courts and religious services that is not acceptable to the Chief Rabbis. The decision to transfer the Rabbinical Courts to the Justice Ministry must be passed by the Knesset.