As the deadline draws near for candidates in the upcoming Jerusalem municipal election, there is no achdus among Bayit Yehudi candidates and it is likely the list will split into two separate lists. Party leader Naftali Bennett would like to praise the achdus in the party, but officials running the Jerusalem branch remain unwilling to accept his instructions, insisting their decision overrides the party’s national leadership. It appears there is no rabbinical intervention towards arriving at a solution.

The Jerusalemites want the list headed by veteran NRP politician Zevulun Orlev. A court will rule if that list will be permitted to run under the Bayit Yehudi name and election code letters.

The national leadership of the party feels the Jerusalem party leaders do not have the authority to build the list headed by Orlev. A negotiating team headed by party MK Ayelet Shaked has failed to reach agreement, offering to alternate members of the two lists.

Party leaders vetoed Orlev as the leader, prompting the placement of Rav Eitan Eiseman in his place. Local party leaders insist on Orlev remaining at the helm. Time is running out and if the players cannot reach agreement, the matter will be decided upon by the Jerusalem District Court.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)