There has been significant pressure on Deputy Education Minister Meir Porush to resign from Knesset to permit the next man on the Degel Hatorah list to enter Knesset, Yaakov Asher. Asher did not get into Knesset as he was number seven on the roster and the Yahadut Hatorah slate only earned eight seats in the 20th Knesset.

On Tuesday evening 24 Elul Porush arrived in Bnei Brak to meet with the head of the Degel Hatorah faction in Knesset, Moshe Gafne, in the party office. It is surmised the two discussed Porush resigning from Knesset to permit Asher to enter. Porush will continue serving as a deputy minister.

Of late, relations between the litvish and chassidish factions of Yahadut Hatorah have significantly deteriorated and it remains to be seen if Porush will accommodate Asker.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)