In light of election polls showing the Blue and White party headed by Benny Gantz is a serious threat, Agudas Yisrael’s Committee of Eight convened to discuss the situation. The meeting was held on motzei Shabbos, as the members of the party’s ruling committee acknowledged the current political reality is a fragile one and it is entirely possible for the right-wing bloc to lose its majority in the upcoming election for 21st Knesset, set for Tuesday, April 9, 2019.
The message released by the committee: “Therefore, it is incumbent upon all of us to maximize the power of the chareidi public by our list. The list of Yahadut Hatorah is the only list that fights for the preservation of the kedusha of Eretz Yisroel under the guidance of Gedolei Torah.”
During the meeting, the leaders of Agudath Israel referred to the Blue and White party’s platform, saying that a simple look of the platform includes freezing the status quo for yeshiva students, Shabbos, education and the institution of Jewish marriage, which constitutes a clear barrier to joining together.
The committee added, “We are horrified to see that Lapid has taken over Gantz and has prepared a plan to destroy all matters of religion in the Land of Israel.”
The Blue and White platform includes arranging the attempt to draft yeshiva students as the party has announced it will approve the law that was formulated and approved by the Defense Ministry, to which the representatives of Agudas Yisrael objected, as instructed by the Moetzas Gedolei HaTorah. The party is also opposed to the Shabbos Supermarket Law as well planning to support public transportation in non-frum areas on Shabbos and Yomim Tovim. Blue and White also writes in its platform that it will enforce the study of ‘core’ secular subjects in all schools. The party will also involve itself in conversions, the status of the Kosel and the egalitarian prayer area and many more areas, leading to the chareidi parties distancing themselves from Blue and White.
Agudas Yisrael has come out with a cry to the chareidi tzibur, highlighting the need to vote for Yahadut Hatorah to provide strong chareidi representation in Knesset to combat any of the above-mentioned changes R”L.
(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
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8 Responses
I am horrified by the thought of Lapid in control of Israel. Furthermore I am horrified by the thought of the Reform in control of the Kotel. But I must tell you and I hope you are listening… There is no way I will vote for a Haredi party.
My reasons:
1) Too focused on your own Dalet Amos with no apparent concern for anything other than your own world.
2) A sense that your just in it for the ride and don’t really care about the State of Israel.
3) A sense that there is a lack of accountability within the Haredi parties for the things that they do. A recent example would be Litzmans complete lack of concern for the optics of his sneaking help to a pedophile who happens to belong to the same Hassidic group as he does. All he had to say way, he didn’t know. Sure.
4) I don’t see any outreach to the secular or any love of your fellow Jews expressed in any tangible way.
5) No love for the land or the mitzvah of settling it.
6) A seeming total lack of awareness as to how you are perceived by the non Haredi world and a seeming total lack of care that much of their perception is a Hillul HaShem.
7) When the Haredi parties will make V’ahavta l’re’echa kamocha more of a critical issue than Hillul Shabbos then perhaps I will consider voting for them.
I have many of the concerns already expressed. I also see the chilul hashem as part of supporting a prime minister that, though, at some point may have been a good choice, has totally overstayed his welcome. He should have abdicated to Sa’ar or others who are not facing corruption charges. I also cringe everytime i see the ads for Shas which says “Shas needs a strong Bibi.” A party needs a platform. A party needs to help its country. A party doesn’t just need to a support a candidate who is questionable in character. I have become disillusioned that the haredi party is really helping us in anyway other that to get elected.
What I do ask Jeff Stuart, is if you do not vote haredi then there is always the problem that another party might join forces with those wishing to harm the tzibur. All options are bad. So who else is left? There is no respectable solution to who to vote for this time.
With all due respect Sara Shuster… I will vote for Bayit Yehudi/Otzma Yehudit, they care about Jews they care about the Halacha they care about the existence of both the state of Israel and the Nation of Israel. And they will most likely be in any coalition formed by Bibi and will be able to have an influence on what happens. I do not happen to agree that Bibi has overstayed his welcome. I think he has done a great job at protecting Israels interests in the world and making Israel a better and safer place for us to live. I will not vote for him as long as I have a viable dati alternative.
Jeff and Stuart,
we feel your anguish
Bear with us
Jeff and Sara,
things are beginning to turn for the collective overall better
Jeff Stuart ever heard of lev L’Achim go look it up and think of the name that they gave the organization
Jeff Stuart :
You hit a walk-off grand slam with your points.
You’re not alone, millions agree with you.
I am not at all surprized that Lapid is running Gants and I assume it is alos in other areas – not just religious
I am ging t vote – BEZ”H for Yahadut Hatorah as the Gedolim say – and unfortunately, althouhg B”H the Charedi minority has grow tremendously, theisr rights must be looked after
I think that SOME of the Bayit Hayehudi care about Halacha – but only part
I also think Netanyahu is a super representa Israel in a Great way – and is a internationally reknowned satesmen and so far there isn’t anyone who comes close to him this way – poeple all over the world wait to see what he has to say