The opening of the 26th Knesset has brought a new intensity to the public statements of party leaders, as behind-the-scenes contacts to form the next government move into high gear.
Naftali Bennett emphasized that he will not compromise on the draft law and equality of service. In response, MK Yaakov Asher of United Torah Judaism laid down three core conditions for his party to join the coalition: a formal exemption from IDF service for bnei Torah, cancellation of the requirement that yeshivos teach core secular subjects as a condition for funding, and strict preservation of the status quo on religion and state.
Political analyst Amit Segal addressed the exchange of red lines and pointed to the gap between the public declarations and the dynamics inside the negotiating rooms.
