While political parties are campaigning for the upcoming general election set for 11 Shevat 5773, the Ashkenazi chareidim are facing a split due to infighting in Degel HaTorah. The dispute between the litvish Degel HaTorah factions known as the Yated Ne’eman and HaPeles factions appears to be widening and if they run as two parties, the result will certainly be fewer seats and less chareidi representation and funding in Knesset.

In the Sephardi community things appear better but insiders signal that in reality, the three-man leadership of Shas, Eli Yishai, Aryeh Deri and Ariel Atias will not pass the test of time since Deri and Yishai are simply two different people, with the latter being more or a right-wing hawk and the former having more liberal and left-wing leanings. In addition, Deri’s return to the political arena has launched attacks against Shas from Yishai supporters as well as residents and supporters of Yehuda and Shomron since Deri is known to have been the force behind persuading Maran HaGaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef Shlita to give Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin the necessary support for the Oslo Agreement.

Back in the Ashkenazi litvish camp, HaPeles official Menachem Carmel and others are busy fundraising for the new split off party, planning to run independent of Degel in the upcoming election after Degel refused to place him on its roster.

An urgent meeting was held for a small select few in the Yerushalmi faction, Carmel reported on the breakdown in talks towards unity in the Degel Party. The meeting was held in the office of attorney Oriel Kook on Yoel Street in Yerushalayim, attended by Yeshayahu Wein, Moshe Huna, Shai Gedasi, Tzvika Herbst and others. They decided the new entity would be launched and run independently, and one participant announced successfully raising 1 million NIS towards the noble cause.

A decision is expected in the coming days as to the possibility of hosting a large kenos in Binyanei Ha’uma, the Jerusalem Convention Center to officially launch the election campaign. This plan will be presented later in the week to the rabbonim affiliated with the new effort, Rav Tzvi Friedman and Rav Baruch Shmuel Deutsch, as well as seeking the approval of HaGaon HaRav Shmuel Auerbach, who has been supportive to date according to the reports of those involved.

Last week YWN-ISRAEL reported that the breakaway faction leaders were registering the new party, called Netzach HaTorah to leave themselves the option as the registration deadline for parties was ending.

In reality, despite limited dialogue it appears that if the rabbonim give the green light, Degel is destined to split and this will most likely have a negative impact on Degel and Agudah, today represented in Knesset under the Yahadut HaTorah umbrella.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)