In about 11 months, elections will be held for local authorities in Ashdod. The chareidi parties have begun to sort out a city and see where they continue to support the incumbent mayor and where they want to support a new candidate or even run their own candidate.

The city in which Shas is currently busy is the city of Ashdod, a city with thousands of families from among the chareidi public, from all ethnicities and groups. Senior officials in Shas feel that the mayor’s office is confident that the chareidi public is in their hands. Hence, they do not have to take this community seriously.

As a result, discussions began among senior faction members whether to support the incumbent, Dr. Yechiel Lasri in the upcoming elections or to unite with other factions and bring a new candidate for mayor.

On Tuesday morning 3 Kislev, Shas Chairman Aryeh Deri and Yisrael Beitenu Chairman Minister Avigdor Lieberman met. According to a Kikar Shabbos report, the two discussed local elections, including Ashdod and they are deciding on possibly uniting and backing the same candidate to replace the incumbent.

During the conversation, Lieberman detailed his intention to unite several factions in the city of Ashdod and all the immigrants in the city, headed by council member Shimon Sanya Katzenelson. The defense minister told Deri that he intends to arrive in the city in the next few days, to start working and hold meetings.

Minister Deri explained that he had not yet made a decision on the city of Ashdod and that he was in the process of checking the situation in the city and the reactions of the residents.

Deri and Lieberman agreed to continue to be in touch with local authorities throughout the country, with an emphasis on Ashdod.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)