Ayelet Shaked blames Religious Zionism Party for failure on passing new immigration law
The dispute continues over attempts to permanently amend Israel’s Basic Law on Immigration to bar granting citizenship to Palestinians who marry Israeli citizens.
Israeli Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked speaks during a Yamina Party meeting at the Knesset, in Jerusalem, on July 5, 2021. Photo by Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90
A few months ago, the Knesset failed to pass an extension of a 2003 law by a slim margin.
The issue is one supported by parties both within the governing coalition and outside of it. Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s and Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked’s Bayit Yehudi party, support the change. So does the opposition Religious Zionism party. But the various factions could not agree to a deal on a new law, in spite of a majority of Knesset members supporting the new law in principle.
Negotiations have been ongoing between Bayit Yehudi and Religious Zionism on a compromise for a new bill that would pass the Knesset. But now Ayelet Shaked says that these talks have broken down, blaming her counterpart in the Religious Zionism party Simcha Rothman.
A new law was due to be placed before the Knesset last week, but the sides decided to delay it in order to hammer out a few remaining details. Shaked wanted Religious Zionism to support a renewal of the temporary law, and in exchange promised that she would establish a team to decide on language for an entirely new law that would be acceptable to both sides.
Her counterpart from Religious Zionism, MK Rothman, however, demanded that Minister Shaked publicly and promise that she would renounce the coalition’s agreements made with the Meretz and Ra’am (United Arab List) parties on the unification of thousands of Palestinian families.
Minister Shaked lashed out at Religious Zionism saying, “I am sorry that they have chosen to prefer petty political considerations over national and security considerations.”
She made a lengthy post on Facebook claiming that Rothman “failed to bring the support of the ‘militant’ opposition to the move. Shaked also said that he “was forced to tell me candidly ‘we have not reached an understanding, I’ll have to “make a campaign on your head (attack her directly)’.”
“That’s how it works,” added Shaked. “Small politics has replaced national and security considerations. I hope someone in the opposition recovers and acts like the responsible adult. It’s not too late.”
MK Rothman blamed Shaked for the failed negotiations. “I entered into negotiations with the aim of defending the borders of the State of Israel and was disappointed. In the moment of truth, Ayelet Shaked chose to remain committed to [PA leader] Abbas and Horowitz and refused to return to their dangerous commitments.”
