The elections for the 20th Knesset, which will take place in a bit over 50 days, will be unique, even on an Israeli standard. For one thing, Shas has imploded and the mother party is fighting to find its way back out of the single digits. The breakoff Yachad party headed by Eli Yishai continues to fail to enter Knesset in election polls.
We then have the Otzma party that includes Dr. Michael Ben-Ari and Baruch Marzel, and we also have Moshe Feiglin breaking from Likud, announcing he is launching his unique party. It is possible that all of these parties are in some aspect competing for the same votes.
In the exclusively chareidi arena there is Yahadut Hatorah, which is concerned its breakoff faction, Bnei Torah, will make good on its threat and run independently, which could cost Bayit Yehudi a seat or more.
Hence the right-wing religious vote is split at best, and according to some poll watchers, the results may be devastating for religious chareidi representation in the 20th Knesset.
However, we are not done. Now we are introduced to the first even women’s chareidi party, women who identify as chareidim but are unwilling to go another round with female representation in Knesset, which they will not receive from Shas or Yahadut Hatorah. In all likelihood they will be unwelcome in Yachad too since HaGaon HaRav Meir Mazuz Shlita has signaled he does not plan to break from tradition on this matter.
Three such women on Monday night 28 Teves announced the launch of their new party, “B’Zechutan” (In their merit). According to the NRG report, they do not have a great deal of backing.
The party’s list is headed by Ruth Colliano, who has been an activist for chareidi female rights. Next in the lineup is Noa Erez and then Karen Mozen.
The three spoke of the historic day, the announcement of their party, which is likely to be met with much disapproval at best among rabbonim. Most feel that they do not have a prayer of passing the minimum threshold but if the party runs in the election, it will be additional frum votes heading for the trash.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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11 Responses
The Erev Rav aren’t just secular and they aren’t just men.
This party is as “chareidi” as Mr. Dov Lipman and Mr. Haim Amsellem. And will get as much “chareidi” support as they did. They are farcical and stand against everything chareidim stand for.
Feminism like this and Chareidim are polar opposites.
What have these women been doing for a living? have they ran for office locally in Bnei Brak, Jerusalem or elsewhere?
What makes them hareidi rather than frum zionists?
If they are on an ego trip, whose votes are they wasting (Lapid’s, Bennett’s, Shas’s, Yahadut ha-Torah’s, etc.).
Is this a publicity stunt?
Kind of an oxymoron
Need to update your info.
“Yachad” by Eli Yishai will gain 4-5 mandates as SHAS keeps falling. Feiglin is not starting a new party this year rather for upcoming elections.
Concerns are:
1. Who is on Yachad’s list?
2. Who will “working Charedim” vote for?
3. Will CHAREDI parties put women’s agenda on their list of concerns? (female health issues, working & child care conditions, salaries & continuing Ed)
4. Can a party balance social/poor needs with a balanced budget + capitalist growth potentials?
5. Where do parties stand regarding peace plans & c”v land transfers?
6. Is israel a Jewish state or A Democracy? What’s the balance?
7. Who will get the Chabad vote?
Can anyone tell me what are the issues that these different chareidi parties disagree upon,so that they split up like this?
I just don’t know…
i saw a picture of them, they don’t even cover their hair
losers
It is obvious from these posts what is wrong and why we have all these splits in the frum community. This is not what frum people are about or stand for. Since when does Chareidim mean talking about women the way some of you do. Do you have wives, daughters? Where does it say that a woman must be a second class citizen. I for one want better for my daughters. SHAME ON YOU. This party will not reach the threshold, but the comments are abhorrent.
#10: It is real Chareidi women making many of the above comments. These farcial wannabes starting this new party do not represent Chareidi women and Chareidi women reject them.