After the internal audit: The chairman of Agudath Israel MK Yitzhak Goldknopf announced today (Monday) that he is renouncing the membership in the political-security cabinet that was given to him during the coalition agreements with the Likud. This, by order of the rabbis and in order to reconcile the relations with Moshe Gafni’s Torah banner – who was furious with Goldknopf because he claimed that this was contrary to Halacha. As of this time, there are still no agreements between Agudat Israel and Degal HaTorah, which demanded to sign a separate agreement with the Likud separately from the association.
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As mentioned, Goldknopf’s appointment was at the heart of a conflict between the factions in Torah Judaism, after the Degel Torah faction opposed Goldknopf’s appointment, because according to them it goes against the Halacha, and demanded to sign a separate agreement with the Likud. The Torah Flag faction issued a clarification stating that they are opposed to accepting the position of minister who is responsible for all government actions as well as cabinet members.
“Degal HaTorah opposes accepting the position of a minister who bears responsibility for all government actions, including decisions that are against the Halacha, even if he votes against, due to the collective responsibility. All the more, since he is a member of the political cabinet, I am confident that the decisions there are made after the ministers know about all the actions that were taken before and especially When it comes to human life,” it says.
The Torah Flag Chairman Moshe Gafni sent a sharp letter to Prime Minister-designate Binyamin Netanyahu in which he demands that the coalition agreement be reopened, claiming that the agreements reached were only with Agudat Israel, and not with the entire faction. MK Moshe Gafni even considered asking himself the position of the minister and thereby thwart the appointment of Goldknopf to the position of Minister of Housing and Membership in the Political-Security Cabinet.
In addition, he noted that the senior spiritual leader of Torah Judaism, Rabbi Gershon Edelstein, does not agree to membership in the cabinet. In his letter, he mentioned the opposition of the Torah Flag to sign on issues that Agudat Israel opposes.