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Netanyahu's Brilliant Maneuver to Save the Draft Law
In a calculated political move, the Prime Minister is expected to appoint MK Yisrael Eichler as Deputy Minister of Communications today. The real objective: bringing Yitzhak Pindrus back to the Knesset and neutralizing internal opposition to the Draft Law.
Amid frantic efforts to pass the Draft Law, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is executing a dramatic tactical move today (Thursday) designed to secure the necessary coalition majority and neutralize opposition from within.
According to a report by political commentator Amit Segal, MK Yisrael Eichler (United Torah Judaism) is expected to be appointed Deputy Minister of Communications later today. While on the surface this appears to be a professional appointment, behind the scenes lies a maneuver intended to shift the balance of power ahead of the fateful vote.
The immediate implication of the appointment is the activation of the "Norwegian Law": upon entering the government, Eichler is expected to resign from the Knesset, allowing the next person on the party list, 'Degel HaTorah' Secretary General Yitzhak Pindrus to take his place.
This swap is critical for Netanyahu. Eichler, a representative of the Belz Hasidic dynasty, was part of a potential "Hasidic bloc" of four MKs who threatened to vote against the law or raise significant difficulties regarding its current wording. In contrast, Pindrus is considered a "safe vote" and a staunch supporter of coalition discipline regarding the legislation.
Commentator Amit Segal analyzed the move and explained how it rescues the legislation: "A bloc of four Hasidic MKs voting against the draft would have killed the law. Netanyahu defused this mine and gained a significant vote."
Segal added a jab at the Prime Minister's critics: "By the way, this is for all those who thought he wasn't truly interested in passing the law."
In a single political exercise, Netanyahu achieved two goals:
1. Dismantling Bargaining Power: Neutralizing the Hasidic faction's ability to topple the law.
2. Securing the Majority: Swapping a wavering vote (Eichler) for a guaranteed one (Pindrus).
Now, with Pindrus's imminent return to the plenum, the coalition is preparing for the final stretch in its attempt to solve the draft crisis threatening the government's stability.