Litzman did not show up on Monday for an important Knesset Finance Committee vote having to do with Prime Minister Sharon's disengagement plan. The issue was the allocation of 30 million shekels for advance compensation payments to residents slated for uprooting. Opponents of the plan wished to stymie the appropriation in order to hold up the expulsion, and in fact succeeded in doing so last week when the government was unable to muster a majority in the committee. This was thanks to the expected "nay" vote by MK Litzman, as well as successful pressure on Likud MK Daniel Ben-Lulu.
The vote was then postponed until this past Monday and the results were, in fact, different. By a 10-8 vote, the allocation was approved, thus paving the way for advance payments for those residents who wish to avail themselves of such. Ben-Lulu voted in favor, saying that he did not wish to hurt the residents who wish to receive compensation, while Litzman was absent. He later said that he was at an "important conference" at a Dead Sea hotel, having to do with the Postal Authority. His absence raised some eyebrows, as it is known that the rabbinical authorities guiding the UTJ party are against the disengagement plan.
Arutz-7's Ruti Avraham reports that Litzman was asked during a Monday night radio interview if he had consulted with the rabbis before absenting himself. His response: "No, this was a political matter. There is no need to consult..."
The interviewer persisted, according to a transcript published in the weekly Arba Kanfot: "If the Torah giants had told you to vote one way or another, wouldn't you have returned to vote according to their decision?" Litzman's discomfiture was evident, and after several false starts, he replied, "This wasn't a part of the disengagement plan, but rather an administrative clause, just politics. But beyond that, I say clearly that even if I could have returned [to vote], I wouldn't have been able to return [sic]..."
Litzman's remarks are most controversial, as UTJ party policy is based solidly on following the guidelines set by its Council of Torah Sages.
The vote was then postponed until this past Monday and the results were, in fact, different. By a 10-8 vote, the allocation was approved, thus paving the way for advance payments for those residents who wish to avail themselves of such. Ben-Lulu voted in favor, saying that he did not wish to hurt the residents who wish to receive compensation, while Litzman was absent. He later said that he was at an "important conference" at a Dead Sea hotel, having to do with the Postal Authority. His absence raised some eyebrows, as it is known that the rabbinical authorities guiding the UTJ party are against the disengagement plan.
Arutz-7's Ruti Avraham reports that Litzman was asked during a Monday night radio interview if he had consulted with the rabbis before absenting himself. His response: "No, this was a political matter. There is no need to consult..."
The interviewer persisted, according to a transcript published in the weekly Arba Kanfot: "If the Torah giants had told you to vote one way or another, wouldn't you have returned to vote according to their decision?" Litzman's discomfiture was evident, and after several false starts, he replied, "This wasn't a part of the disengagement plan, but rather an administrative clause, just politics. But beyond that, I say clearly that even if I could have returned [to vote], I wouldn't have been able to return [sic]..."
Litzman's remarks are most controversial, as UTJ party policy is based solidly on following the guidelines set by its Council of Torah Sages.