All the [Haredi] news sites are reporting on a surprising and heated situation in the municipality of Bet Shemesh. Perhaps a crack in the coalition.

Mayor Moshe Abutbol has removed City Councilman Mordechai Dirnfeld, a Belzer hassid, from his position as head of the Finance Committee.

The reason for the dismissal is Dirnfeld's opposition to the Iryah's plan to change the rates of arnona, which affects the rates and qualifications of the discounts. This change would supposedly exclude many avreichim from qualifying for full or any discounts.

Because DIrnfeld voted against the proposal, in opposition to the coalition, Abutbol relieved him of his duties as head of the Finance Committee.




sources: Bechadrei (with video), Kikar, Ladaat, Kooker

I don't know if this actually means anything or if he will be back in his position in a week. After all, Abutbol has a tenuous majority and needs Dirnfeld.

Rumor has it, and it is just a rumor, that this might have been staged as a way to clear a spot to make a deal that would bring the Likud party into the coalition. There is now an important position available for them, should they come to an agreement. Abutbol has been in talks with the Likud for a while, trying to get them in.

Another point is that Habayit Hayehudi had two of its represnetatives missing from the vote. The vote passed, despite irnfeld's opposition, by a vote of 9-8. Had the reps of Habayit Hayehudi been present and voted against, this would have been a major success of the opposition over the coalition. I suspect though that if the Habayit Hayehudi reps had been there Dirnfeld might not have voted against. He would have seen that in such a case the coalition would actually lose, and he probably would have toed the line..