Degel Hatorah MKs Moshe Gafne, Uri Maklev and Yaakov Asher on Sunday morning 8 Kislev met with Maran HaGaon HaRav Aaron Yehuda Leib Shteinman Shlita. The MKs wanted to confer with the gadol hador as how to respond to pressure from representatives of the prime minister who want a commitment from the chareidim that following elections, they will recommend to the president the mandate for forming a coalition should be given to Mr. Netanyahu, not another candidate.

While the Degel representatives declined to reveal what Rav Shteinman told them, Kikar Shabbos reports it has learned the gadol hador told them to commit that they will not join another coalition ahead of elections.

A senior Degel official explains that this means if the Knesset dissolves and elections are set, Degel will not join another coalition but it will not and cannot commit regarding after elections since one cannot know the outcome at this time regarding how many seats each party receives and who will be capable of forming a coalition.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)