Last update - 00:00 08/05/2007
Olmert holds talks with Degel HaTorah over joining coalition
By Yair Ettinger and Yossi Verter, Haaretz Correspondent
As part of efforts to entice religious and right-wing parties to join the coalition, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert met with the two Degel HaTorah MKs Monday night.
Olmert is stepping up his efforts to widen the coalition due to fears his government may collapse should Labor resign following the May 28 primaries for party leadership.
Olmert met with Avraham Ravitz and Moshe Gafni, the two members of the Degel Hatorah party, in Jerusalem on Monday. Ravitz said Tuesday "these days I'm working on preparing a draft coalition agreement between the government and United Torah Judaism, which I will bring before the Torah sages for approval."
Degel HaTorah is one of two parties within the United Torah Judaism faction. Degel HaTorah represents Lithuanian Haredi Jews, while the other party, Agudat Israel, represents the Hasidic movement.
An associate of the prime minister said Monday that he was optimistic about the government's chances of survival, saying it will have no problem making it through to the Knesset's summer recess at the end of July even if Labor does quit. "With the addition of the two Degel Hatorah MKs, the coalition will stand at 61 MKs. We could enlist a few more supporters, or convince a few MKs to abstain, from the Arab parties, among others, who are not interested in early elections," he said.
The Olmert-Degel Hatorah meeting Monday night was aimed at reaching an agreement on terms that would convince Degel Hatorah to join the coalition. Though Ravitz spoke of an agreement which would include all six United Torah Judaism MKs, the agreement has not been approved by the four Agudat Israel MKs.
Agudat Israel MK and chairman of United Torah Judaism Yakov Litzman accused Ravitz of operating against the stance of the Lithuanian Haredi leaders, which Degel HaTorah is supposed to represent.
The bulk of the negotiations between the prime minister and the MKs surrounded Degel HaTorah's demands to legislate a "Haredi education law" which would encompass all the aspects of religious education, including state budgets and educational autonomy from the state board. Kadima has expressed willingness to legislate such a law in the past, but the two parties could not agree on the amount to be allotted for child benefits.
In addition to talks with UTJ, Olmert has hinted that Labor's possible resignation could pave the way for Likud to join the coalition.
Kadima intends to offer Likud Chairman Benjamin Netanyahu the defense ministry, and a protracted period before fresh elections - apparently until the end of next year.