Talks are ongoing between representatives of Shas and Degel Hatorah as Degel is making a list of demands from Shas, in exchange for backing the incumbent in the upcoming mayoral race, Mayor Moshe Abutbul. Degel has signaled, if an agreement cannot be reached, it would run with it own candidate, which would split the vote.

Senior representatives met on Thursday, 10 Sivan, and cautious optimism is the description being used for the ongoing talks.

The next venue in Degel Hatorah’s sights is Elad, where it will attempt the same process with the incumbent, Mayor Yisrael Porush, representing the Shlomei Emunim faction of Agudas Yisrael. If Degel can have its list of demands met by the incumbent, it would pass on running its own candidate and back Porush’s reelection. Ditto for the campaign in Beit Shemesh and Mayor Moshe Abutbul.

While Degel is working to gain as much political capital as possible, the big question remains if the chareidim will run with their own candidate in the Jerusalem race. Will there be achdus, one candidate supported by all chareidim, or will they decide to back one of the various candidates who already announced they hope to run in the race. At present, Moshe Leon and Ofir Berkowitz have announced their candidacies. Likud Minister Ze’ev Elkin wishes to join the race, but state he will not do so until such time he is endorsed as the official Likud party candidate.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)