Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak ordered Thursday the dismantling of the Ministry of Religious Affairs to be resumed. The decision will go to the cabinet for confirmation in nine days when the Justice Minister and acting Religious Affairs Minister, Yossi Beilin, returns from abroad, reported Haatertz on Friday.
The scrapping of the ministry was suspended last month when the Shas Party provided the Barak government with a "safety net" to survive no confidence votes. Barak decided to proceed with dismantling the ministry when the Shas safety net agreement ended and he decided to call early elections.
The scrapping of the ministry comes as part of Barak’s so-called secular revolution, in which he promised to deprive the religious in the Israeli society from the privileges they enjoy such as exemption from military service.
But Barak’s plans will always stumble as long as the Shas party has influence in the Knesset, according to analysts – Albawaba.com
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
