Coalition partners at odds over conversion bill

MK Elazar Stern

During a fiery debate on Tuesday, Habayit Hayehudi MKs threatened to vote against the coalition on the conversion reform bill authored by Hatnuah MK Elazar Stern with support from Justice Minister Tzipi Livni.

“We will not commit to coalition agreements since, on this issue, a promise to make this a government bill was broken, only because Minister Livni wanted to move her own bill forward,” said MK Orit Struck (Habayit Hayehudi).

The conversion bill would allow chief municipal rabbis to carry out conversions in local rabbinical conversion courts, as opposed to the current system in which only four courts are authorized to perform conversions to Judaism in Israel.

According to the bill, Religious Services Minister and Habayit Hayehudi leader Naftali Bennett would oversee the new state conversion system that will regulate conversion-granting courts and the conversion process in the army. The new conversion system will also regulate preparation and study, immersion in a ritual bath, and (for men) circumcision that precedes conversion, as well as marriage registration of converts.

Habayit Hayehudi has asked that the bill be brought forward as a government bill. The Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee is expected to vote Wednesday on the approval of a second and third reading of the bill.

Coalition Chairman MK Yariv Levin (Likud) said, “Habayit Hayehudi’s unacceptable behavior is a complete violation of its commitments and breaks coalition agreements. I will not bow to Habayit Hayehudi’s threats and failed attempts to prevent the conversion bill from moving forward.”

Habayit Hayehudi issued a statement in response: “Habayit Hayehudi is not here to compensate disappointed members of the coalition. You cannot sell every value in return for a political favor. The issue of conversion will be discussed with us to ensure cooperation among the coalition.”