Using its party-affiliated newspaper to get the news out, Yated Neeman on Monday 19 Kislev reports Degel Hatorah is onboard, joining the battle in Arad, backing the Gerre community.

YWN-ISRAEL reported that Belz is also on board, as the Agudas Yisrael-affiliated Hamodia daily announced other chassidic court are on board as well. Health Minister Yaakov Litzman, who is affiliated with Gur, has spearheaded the battle to bring all chareidim on board against Arad City Hall and its Yesh Atid party mayor.

However, Degel explains “There is a difference between supporting a cause and getting out into the streets and protesting”, which party leaders have already indicated will only occur if and when ordered to do so by Gedolei Yisrael Shlita. Degel condemns the attack on a shul in Arad two weeks ago by secularists who entered and began screaming and disturbing tefilos, but draws its line with joining protests that are scheduled in a number of cities around Israel for this week.

Yated does add the chareidim stand united and when mayors in cities including Arad realize this, realize the political force behind such a unified body, “They will without a doubt think twice before trying to deprive them (chareidim) of that which they are legitimately entitled to”.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)