With municipal elections set for after the Tishrei Yomim Tovim, the Belz Chassidus realizes it can no longer sit on the fence and it must align with either Degel Hatorah or Agudas Yisrael. It appears that Agudas Yisrael officials have signaled Belz to announce a decision ahead of elections, no longer willing to permit Belz to maintain is non-affiliated status.

It is pointed out that in the Moetzas Gedolei Yisrael, Knesset and most municipalities Belz is affiliated with Agudas Yisrael while in Yerushalayim and Bnei Brak with Degel Hatorah. Degel officials have announced this is no longer acceptable and the time has come to announce the chassidus’ allegiance. Like it or not, Degel is signaling that from its perspective, Belz slots must be on cheshbon of Agudas Yisrael, not the litvish faction. Agudah sees things a bit different, explaining if this is so, then the internal agreements reached between the litvish and chassidish factions must be opened and renegotiated for Agudah feels if Belz is counted among the chassidish faction, the latter is entitled to increased representation.

To truly understand this, one must remember that Belz was originally part of the litvish faction established by Maran Rav Shach ZT”L. The Belzer Rebbe Shlita sat alongside Rav Shach at the Yad Eliyahu kenos, and as a result, Belz has been counted at the expense of Degel representation in Yerushalayim and Bnei Brak.

As the years moved on Belz began realizing the growing power of the chassidish faction and slowly began migrating to its natural home, Agudas Yisrael. It is also noted that some 10 years ago an agreement was signed between Belz-Machzikei Hadas and Agudah stating the chassidus is an integral part of the chassidish faction. That agreement specifically states Agudah is responsible to integrate Belz representation into the Jerusalem lineup, among the top five in the lineup. In Bnei Brak, Belz must be in the top four of the lineup. The placement in Ashdod will be dependent on the size of the chassidus in the city. The placement of Belz on the lineup is fixed, even in Agudah runs with another faction.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)