Yisrael Beiteinu Spokesman: Even if Religion State Demands Met Won't Sit
With Ultra Orthodox
Dr. Aaron Lerner 26 September 2019

The following is a translation of a Hebrew SMS exchange today.

IMRA: Is it true to say that if the right-wing "bloc" adopts the principles
of passing the Recruitment Law, along with English and mathematics studies
in all the educational institutions in Israel that Yisrael Beiteinu is
willing to join a government formed by that "bloc"?

Arye Vishnevetski, spokesperson for Yisrael Beiteinu: No. Only the unity
government - Yisrael Beiteinu, Likud, Blue and White

IMRA: I want to be precise: even if the ultra-Orthodox accept the demands of
Yisrael Beiteinu do you rule out joining a government that is not a unity
government?

Vishnevetski: Everything is clear by us. Everything we said before the
election we say even now. There is no change. Only a unity government

IMRA: In an interview today on Radio Rekah, Liberman said: "There are no
prerequisites. If the Likud contacts us officially, we are ready to
negotiate with them."

Vishnevetski: One sentence cannot be taken from an entire interview.
"Lieberman also spoke on radio radio: If there is a formal appeal, Yisrael
Beiteinu will negotiate with the Likud only and not with the halakhic bloc
Netanyahu brings with him. There will be no change in the party's position,
which will not sit with the ultra-Orthodox or the Messianic (and the Joint
[Arab Party] or Meretz). We will not give up our demands on religion and
state, security, immigration and absorption, and only within the framework
of a liberal national unity government."

IMRA: I understood from this that the negotiations are with Likud to
summarize the fulfillment of the requirements regarding religion and state.
And, as the saying goes, if the haredim agree then they are no longer the
same haredim and it is possible to sit with them.

Vishnevetski: In short, I sent everything in black and white. You can also
look at Liberman's Facebook. Nice weekend and a happy new year
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IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis

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Arab-Israeli relations

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