Agudath Israel backed down last night from its threat to withhold support for the government’s reorganization plan unless the amendment to the abortion law is pushed through first. But the four Aguda Knesseters warned Premier Menachem Begin and Simcha Ehrlich, who is slated to be Begin’s second Deupty Premier, that unless the abortion amendment is passed by the end of the month they would withdraw their support from the government coalition and thereby threaten its majority in the Knesset.
Aguda withdrew its ultimatum last night after Ehrlich told the four MKs that the government coalition whips could not yet ensure a majority for the abortion amendment. “We need more time for preparatory work, “Ehrlich said. He said he and the whips would try to convince wavering coalition MKs that it is not worth endangering the government majority over the issue.
The amendment, promised by Begin to Aguda in the original coalition agreement two years ago, would remove the clause permitting abortions for social and economic reasons. All of the Democratic Party MKs and several Liberal Party members have declared they will not support the government in abolishing this clause.
Meanwhile, the four Aguda MKs supported the government last night on the first reading of the amendment to the “Basic Law” which will allow a second Deputy Premier. The bill is expected to be rushed through committee hearings and second and third readings so that Begin can present his revamped Cabinet to the Knesset this week.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
