Haredi MKs fed the flames of rumors that they cut a deal with opposition leader Isaac Herzog (Labor) to support him as the next prime minister if he votes against haredi conscription, while Herzog's response remained vague Tuesday.
"[Herzog] successfully united the opposition, and I wish him continuing success. He is the alternative to [Prime Minister Binyamin] Netanyahu," Shas leader Arye Deri said.Deri went further saying that his goal is "to anoint [Herzog] as prime minister."
United Torah Judaism leader Ya'acov Litzman said "the best thing [Finance Minister Yair Lapid and Economy Minister Naftali Bennett] is cause a rift between us [the haredim] and Netanyahu."
"There is no chance we'll return to the Likud's arms," Litzman added. "The thing that Netanyahu did, criminal sanctions [on those who do not enlist in the IDF] - there's no way back from that."
A spokesman for Herzog unequivocally denied that there is a deal with the haredi parties, saying that the opposition leader called for haredim to enlist in the IDF.
However, while Herzog's speech to the opposition's alternative plenum said that he "believes every Israeli citizen has to serve in the army or find a social alternative," the rest of his comments on the matter slammed the conscription bill and the coalition for trying to provoke the haredim.
Herzog did not refer explicitly to reports of an agreement, but many in the coalition criticized him for at least theoretically making one.
"It's the end of days, the opposition is coalescing. [Shas MK] Nissim Ze'ev is together with [UAL-Ta'al MK] Ahmed Tibi, Litzman with [Balad MK Jamal] Zahalke. It's messianic times," Pensioners' Affairs Minister Uri Orbach quipped. "Deri is praising Herzog and hopes he'll be prime minister and Herzog is giving in to the flattery."
Yesh Atid faction chairman Ofer Shelah criticized the opposition's "hypocrisy and double-speak," pointing out that in the Shaked Committee on haredi conscription, "Labor representatives didn't vote for mandatory enlistment...just like today Labor is avoiding voting...They found ways to run away from making decisions. All the bills will pass in the end, but the opposition leader can tell Deri and LItzman that he didn't help."
MK David Rotem (Likud Beytenu) said that while the opposition cries about democracy, its already working on its coalition for after the next election.
"That's what interests [Herzog]. Not democracy, not electoral reform. When the opposition knew they didn't have real arguments against the bills, the only thing that interested [Labor] was making the haredim like them. When they heard that whoever votes for haredi conscription won't get haredi support, they decided not to come to the vote," Rotem stated.