Sidelined ultra-Orthodox parties fear new 'secular' govt: Israel
Once powerful kingmakers find themselves sitting in opposition, along with ally Netanyahu
Ultra-Orthodox parties, once viewed as political kingmakers, fear a shift toward secularization under Israel’s new “change” government.
After years in power under ousted premier Benjamin Netanyahu, the ultra-Orthodox parties are "experiencing a deep crisis," said Peggy Cidor, a journalist at The Jerusalem Post newspaper.
For Jews in Israel, the ultra-Orthodox strand of Judaism has sheld a monopoly on decisions regarding marriage, divorce, funerals, and public transportation; a bone of contention for many secular Jewish Israelis.
Many ultra-Orthodox "are terrified by this new government" which appears to them as "catastrophic," said Cidor, an expert on the community, which constitutes some 12 percent of Israelis.
In Israel's latest general election back in March, the two ultra-Orthodox parties – Shas and United Torah Judaism (UTJ) – won 16 of the Knesset's (Israel Parliament) 120 seats, and both backed Netanyahu's failed bid to remain as prime minister.
Historically open to right-wing and left-wing government coalitions, the ultra-Orthodox parties have for the last 12 years tied their flag to Netanyahu’s mast, which now lands them in the opposition.
Leaders of Shas and UTJ questioned the Jewishness of Prime Minister Naftali Bennett in the days before the formation of the new government.
Bennett, who defines himself as religious, responded sharply.
"Ultra-Orthodox MKs won't teach us what Judaism is," he said.
The inclusion of fiercely secularist Avigdor Lieberman as finance minister also alarms the ultra-Orthodox factions, who are concerned about state financial support for men studying in subsidized religious institutions being cut.