The two ultra-Orthodox parties in the government, Shas and United Torah Judaism, are planning to sponsor legislation to block implementation of last week’s High Court ruling that recognized private Orthodox conversions in Israel. It would also block recognition of conversions performed under auspices of the Reform and Conservative movements. […]

Two United Torah Judaism members, MK Moshe Gafni of the Degel Hatorah faction and Health Minister Yakov Litzman of the Hassidic Agudat Yisrael faction, issued a joint statement in which they declared their intention to sponsor legislation on the issue. It would be similar to legislation that they are promoting to circumvent a recent High Court ruling that requires local Orthodox religious councils to allow their ritual baths to be used for Reform and Conservative conversions.

Bezalel Smotrich of the Habayit Hayehudi party said he would support legislation bypassing the court’s ruling.