The ultra-Orthodox parties were furious, and they were disgusted. They reacted with derision to a statement by Foreign Minister and Alternative Prime Minister Yair Lapid on Nov. 8 that, “If any of the ultra-Orthodox parties is willing to accept the guiding principles of the current government, I will pressure Finance Minister Avigdor Liberman to allow them to join the coalition.”
It might seem like a gesture of goodwill, after they were exiled to the opposition benches with former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In fact, the ultra-Orthodox believe they are being played by Lapid and his ally, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.
