Following the intervention of the Prime Minister’s Bureau, MK Moshe Gafne agreed to remove his candidacy for a slot on the committee that appoints dayanim. There was a growing conflict between Gafne and MK Yisrael Eichler, with the coalition preferring Eichler. Just this week Gafne met with Maran HaGaon HaRav Aaron Yehuda Leib Shteinman Shlita, who instructed Degel Hatorah to remain firm in its demand for the slot for Gafne.

Complicating matters, on Monday, 4 Menachem Av, the Moetzas Gedolei Hatorah of Agudas Yisrael backed Eichler’s candidacy.

The solution came from the prime minister’s staff, offering Gafne an acceptable compensation package, leading to him dropping out of the race. The agreement reached was approved by Rav Shteinman, clearing the way for Gafne to back out of the race and permit Eichler to run unopposed. Gafne sent a letter to the Yahadut Hatorah faction head, MK Menachem Eliezer Moses, officially informing him of his decision and the reason behind it. Gafne added he will work towards Eichler’s election to the committee as well.

Agudas Yisrael is now expected to announce it is no longer opposed the passing of the Norwegian Law, which would clear the way for one of the Agudas Yisrael deputy ministers to resign from Knesset to permit Degel Hatorah’s Yaakov Asher to enter Knesset.

It remains to be seen however if either Yaakov Litzman or Meir Porush will resign from Knesset towards permitting Asher to enter Knesset.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)