While Shas and Degel Hatorah are portraying a genuine desire for peace in the chareidi camp, one may opine that in the community of Elad, this is not the case, as the two parties toppled a second attempt to create a coalition government in the city.

The matter began during the period before municipal elections, when they did everything possible to block Mayor Yisrael Porush’s reelection, albeit without success. When Porush tried to pass the city’s budget the first time, Shas and Degel united to prevent it from happening, and this led to the second effort to pass a city budget.

According to a BeChadrei Chareidim report, the session ended at 3:00AM, adding the mayor battled to obtain approval for his planned budget, making a nine-hour effort before it was voted down. Once again, Shas and Degel wanted to show Porush that while he managed to get reelected, he does not possess sufficient authority and/or power to pass a budget or run the city without them.

The two parties teamed up and Degel Hatorah officials explained it has a signed agreement from Shlomei Emunim that Porush should not run for a second term, but Agudas Yisrael said the slot belongs to Agudas Yisrael, namely Yisrael Porush of the Shlomei Emunim faction. Degel petitioned the High Court to delay elections after the candidacy of Yitzchak Ravitz was rejected by the High Court. This left them without a candidate but elections were held on schedule.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)