MK Yitzchak Pindrus (United Torah Judaism) said Tuesday morning that his party will not join any government, no matter who heads it, until the status of yeshiva students is fully resolved, and that gedolei Yisrael will make the final decision after the election.
Pindrus was speaking on Kol Berama's "Eight Zero Zero" programme, against the backdrop of political speculation ahead of the election and reports of quiet chareidi outreach to opposition figures including Gadi Eisenkot. Hosts Yaki Adamker and Yisrael Cohen put to him the claims that chareidi elements have been in contact with Eisenkot and other opposition parties.
Pindrus dismissed scenarios involving Eisenkot or MK Gilad Kariv as speculation. "The central question for us is not who will head a possible government, but what will happen to the status of bnei yeshiva," he said.
"I don't see us joining any government, and it doesn't matter whose, before we solve the issue of bnei yeshiva. This is something that will take several months and won't happen in one day. At the end of the day, after the election we will need to come before gedolei Yisrael and they are the ones who will decide, but one thing is clear: nothing will happen without a full arrangement of the status of those who learn Torah."
Pindrus laid down the resolution of the yeshiva students' status as a precondition for chareidi entry into any coalition, irrespective of its leader. He also made clear that solving the issue will not be achieved overnight, and that the process will take several months.
At the same time, Pindrus said the final decision after the election will not be his alone: the chareidi representatives will bring the matter before gedolei Yisrael, who will decide.
