While there is mounting pressure from dati leumi rabbonim including Rabbi Chaim Druckman, it appears the Bayit HaYehudi party prefers to refrain from officially endorsing any candidate at this time. The party Knesset faction is scheduled to meet on Monday to discuss the latest deal on the table, the deal backed by Rabbi Druckman towards having Rabbi Yaakov Ariel elected as the next Ashkenazi chief rabbi.

The deal would compel the party to support Rav Ariel and Shas’ candidate, current Sephardi Chief Rabbi Shlomo Moshe Amar in return for Shas’ support for R’ Ariel

Party officials realize that at present a date for the election has not been set and with so much confusion surrounding the election, accompanied by the fact the so-called Amar Bill has not been passed into law, it prefers to refrain from announcing an endorsement at this time.

The Amar Bill is being authored by Shas towards amending the law to permit a chief rabbi to seek a second term. The law would also lift the current 70-year-old age barrier, which is relevant to both Rav Amar and Rav Ariel.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)