UTJ Reportedly Seeks Religion-and-State Legislation Freeze in Coalition Talks

United Torah Judaism reportedly wants Gadi Eisenkot to commit at the outset of coalition negotiations to freezing legislation on religion and state for the prospective government's entire term. The demand, first reported Tuesday evening, would shelve several election pledges by parties seeking to form a government under the Yashar leader. The proposed freeze reportedly covers civil unions, municipal authority over public transportation on Shabbat, and making education funding conditional on a full core curriculum. It would also cover restoring the repealed kashrut reform, conversion reform, reversing the previous Knesset's approval of gender separation in academia, and repealing the expansion of rabbinical courts' powers. Political sources described the talks as substantially more advanced than their public appearance and said there was willingness to form a government before passing a conscription law. Earlier Tuesday, Shas reiterated that it had recommended Benjamin Netanyahu on instructions from its Council of Torah Sages, following his commitment to legislate the status of yeshiva students. Shas said: “Shas continues to support Netanyahu and is not conducting negotiations with any other party.” On November 9, Eisenkot and Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Liberman reportedly agreed to seek Haredi support for an Eisenkot government in exchange for a softened conscription framework. Together leader Naftali Bennett is reportedly not directly participating in the contacts and would need to decide on any final proposal. Lawmakers from his party are expected to seek clarification at their Wednesday faction meeting about acceptable conscription concessions.