Jerusalem Mayor-elect Moshe Leon is busy assembling his coalition, and this week, Leon and his negotiating team are expected to meet for another round of talks with the chareidi parties. Senior positions will be given to members of Shas and Degel Hatorah, for they played a major role in getting Leon elected. As for Agudas Yisrael, it is going to be a difficult few years, for now is the payback for refusing to back Leon in the mayoral race.
There is competition between Degel and Shas, as they both want control over the prestigious and ever-so-important Chareidi Education portfolio, with each aware this control’s the yeshiva funding.
Yahadut Hatorah held the post for years, but in the last administration, while they licked the wounds of defeat for backing Leon in the mayoral race, Mayor Nir Barkat closed a deal behind their backs, with Shas, and the Sephardi party now wants to maintain control of the portfolio in the incoming administration.
According to a weekend report appearing in Yediot Achronot, that Degel Hatorah, which has six seats in the coalition, is going to receive the Building & Planning portfolio, the Finance portfolio, Chareidi Housing, Allocations Committee and more. The report quotes one senior official saying, “Barkat created many portfolios to permit having a broad-based coalition, so there are plenty of jobs and divisions to control for all”.
Being that Shas controlled the Chareidi Education during the past five years, it has almost entirely resolved the issue of discrimination against Sephardim and it is not likely Shas will relinquish control of this portfolio without a major fight.
The Peleg, which backed Ofer Berkowitz, may not be in the coalition but may find itself in the opposition. It is still too early to make a final determination. What is clear is that Degel Hatorah, with its six seats, will hold a significant amount of power in the incoming administration.
(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
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One Response
it is sad that the writer doesn’t explain if agudah isn’t in the coalition and Ch”v Eitz whom then is? king has publicly said that there has been no negotiation with him. Not Berkowitz chalila! what about kedushas yerushalayim? so what will yated explain ?…..