The rabbinical patron of Shas, an Israeli religious party, says Heaven will be open to two unwaveringly secular politicians if they change their minds and agree to join a governing coalition that includes the ultra-Orthodox. “Liberman and Lapid, if you will agree to join a coalition that the ultra-Orthodox control, you will be rewarded with a heavenly voice that declares: ‘You are invited to the World to Come,’” Rabbi Shalom Cohen said on Tuesday evening while speaking at a party meeting. He was referring to Avigdor Liberman, head of the right-wing Israel Beteynu party, and Yair Lapid, the number two in Blue and White, a centrist political alliance. Both have been adamantly opposed to joining a government that includes ultra-Orthodox parties, claiming they would be given too much control over daily life, including military service for their adherents. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has been unsuccessful in setting up a government since the September 17 parliamentary election, which resulted in a virtual tie between Blue and White and his right-wing Likud party.
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