Judge Hanan Meltzer, chairman of the Central Elections Committee, instructed the committee to publish all the agreements signed between the various factions on the committee’s website, prior to the submission of lists composed of several parties.

The decision was made following the request of attorney Shachar Ben-Meir, by the chairman of the Elections Committee.

Meltzer ordered the disclosure of the agreements – even though such a duty is not fixed in the law, as opposed to exposing coalition agreements – due to the lack of opposition of most of the competing factions.

The only factions that opposed the exposure of the agreements were the Zehut party of Moshe Feiglin and Yahadut Hatorah.

This is a precedent-setting decision, since no written or oral agreements have ever been published before the coalition negotiations.

Following the decision, the agreement between Agudas Yisrael and Degel Hatorah was revealed – despite the fact that the faction opposed it.

According to the agreement between Degel and Agudah, signed by Meir Porush on the part of Agudas Yisrael and Moshe Gafne on behalf of Degel Hatorah, the election budget of each party will not fall below NIS 5.2 million.

It was also agreed that the financing of the current parties after the elections would be paid equally by the Knesset to both parties, even if they did not win equal seats.

The agreement between Degel and Agudah also revealed that each faction within the combined party is responsible for its own debts, or benefiting from its surplus, whichever is relevant.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)