Confrontation between Smotrich and Shas over Community Rabbis
Shas is raising difficulties regarding the appointment of community rabbis in the settlements: In the Binyamin Council, 16 positions were requested but only four were actually approved. In Samaria, not a single position was approved.…
Assessment
A bureaucratic standoff between Smotrich and Shas over the appointment of local rabbis in settlements has stalled the entire process. Shas is blocking approvals, approving only four of sixteen requested positions in Binyamin and none in Samaria. Smotrich is now holding all appointments hostage until an agreement is reached. The dispute reveals internal coalition friction over religious authority in settlement governance.