The Bnei Torah party in Jerusalem City Hall, affiliated with the Yerushalmi faction run by HaGaon HaRav Shmuel Auerbach Shlita has entered into agreement with Shas and Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat. Bnei Torah’s Deputy Mayor Chaim Epstein has relinquished his spot on a number of committees to permit Shas to enter, Kikar Shabbos reports.

The vote was set for Tuesday afternoon 23 Iyar, permitting Epstein to leave to permit Shas to enter the committees. This will land Shas a seat on the local planning committee among other city committees.

Yahadut Hatorah and Degel Hatorah have approached the mayor complaining they have not received fair representation on committees. The chareidi parties stated the mayor has ignored their demand for additional representation for the past two years. Now it appears Barkat found a way to satisfy Shas and Bnei Torah while leaving Degel Hatorah in the cold as the latter has been a source of grief for him during this administration.

In return for cooperating, Bnei Torah will receive assistance for its public needs including educational institutions and shuls, with the assistance of City Hall and Shas of course. Shas has also agreed that while serving on the planning committee, it cannot adopt a position contrary to that of Bnei Torah.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)