“I think that this new crisis is mainly because of internal disputes between haredi leaders,” said Conservative Movement in Israel CEO Yizhar Hess, who was party to the negotiations over the deal. “I think there’s an interest on both sides to keep this deal.” […]

Deri and his colleagues, said Hess, “threw Rabbi Rabinowitz under the wheels of the bus.” Hess told JTA that Rabinowitz received the haredi parties’ approval before signing off on the agreement. Now, those same parties won’t stop bashing it.

With the letters, Hess said, Rabinowitz places the burden of stopping the agreement on haredi politicians — absolving himself. If Shas and UTJ don’t like the agreement, they  — not he — need to pass a law overriding it. Otherwise, he’ll remain committed to the deal he signed.

“The letter yesterday was a message to the leaders of the haredi parties: ‘Guys, its your responsibility. Go with your own strength, and do what you can,” Hess said.