Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman, a strong political ally of Jerusalem mayoral candidate Moshe Leon, met with senior officials of Agudas Yisrael to cut a deal to earn the party’s support. The meeting reportedly took place on erev Shabbos, but Agudas Yisrael officials deny that any such meeting took place.

According to the BeChadrei Chareidim report, Deputy Ministers Meir Porush and Yaakov Litzman met with Lieberman in Yerushalayim. Litzman arrived in a different vehicle, a gold Toyota Camry, to hide his arrival. The meeting took place during the late morning hours in a hotel in the center of Yerushalayim.

They discussed the draft law and backing Moshe Leon in the upcoming runoff election. In addition, the deputy ministers will of course consult with the Admorim of the Torah Council which governs the party, towards determining who to back in the upcoming mayoral race. However, the recommendations made by the deputy ministers weighs heavy on the admorim and strongly influences their decision.

Lieberman is working hard ahead of the runoff election, which is scheduled for Tuesday, 5 Kislev, using his political weight and savvy to ensure a win for his longtime political ally as Lieberman also was the case in earlier mayoral elections in the capital in which Leon lost.

In a directly related matter, Anbar Tvizar reports in Yediot Achronot that there is a deal between Leon and the chareidim, which includes the appointment of two chief rabbis in Yerushalayim: Rabbi Moshe Chaim Lau and Rabbi David Yosef, thereby satisfying both Degel Hatorah and Shas.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)