After a two-week hiatus in talks surrounding the Beit Shemesh mayoral elections, the sides, representatives of the mayor and Degel Hatorah met on Tuesday, erev Rosh Chodesh Tammuz. The meeting was held in the home of Mayor Moshe Abutbul.

Representatives of both Degel Hatorah and Shlomei Emunim met with the mayor. While the mayor preferred to meet separately with the different factions, they refused, insisting on carrying out combined talks.

The factions are trying to ascertain if they can reach agreement on matters important to them towards determining if they will run independently of one another or if they will back Abutbul, the Shas candidate.

Similar talks are ongoing regarding the Elad elections, and while sides have not reached agreement, it appears the common denominator is they wish to make certain the incumbent, Mayor Yisrael Porush, will not be reelected. Degel officials have explained that as per their internal agreements between Degel and Agudas Yisrael, this election should go to a Degel candidate and not one from the chassidic faction.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)