Minister of Religious Services (Shas) David Azoulai and Attorney General Dr. Avichai Mandelblit have decided to delay elections to select a new Chief Rabbi of Hadera for 21 days.

According to the Kikar Shabbos News report, the decision announced on Tuesday, 1 Teves, pushes off the election, which was going to take place on Thursday, 3 Teves. However, the decision was made to delay it following a petition to the High Court of Justice by attorney Asher Dell, who opposes the leading candidate, Rabbi Yisrael Meir Biton. There are also complaints filed with police in the matter, hence the decision to delay elections.

After learning the two decided to delay the election, the High Court did not issue an injunction interfering with the process.

A police complaint has been filed by a resident of the city against the rav, and police have not had sufficient time to probe the validity of the complaints and update the Justice Ministry. Officials in the rav’s office dismiss the complaint as nonsense, adding the complainant has filed numerous complaints against him simply to prevent his election to the city’s Chief Rabbi post.

Attorney Dell maintains there is a conflict of interests between Rabbi Biton and some members of the voting committee, demanding changes to the persons on the committee to eliminate those conflicts.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)