Degel Hatorah leaders Moshe Gafne, Uri Maklev and Yaakov Asher are beginning consultations and looking ahead to municipal elections, meeting with rabbonim including HaGaon HaRav Chaim Kanievsky.
The first city discussed is Beit Shemesh, where they must decide to once again throw their support behind the incumbent, Shas Mayor Moshe Abutbul in return for Shas backing elsewhere, or alternatively, to announce a candidate to compete and thereby split the chareidi vote.
Regarding Elad, which according to the agreement with Shlomei Emunim belongs to Degel Hatorah. However, Degel prefers to permit Yisrael Porush to remain in the leadership position in exchange for backing from Shlomei Emunim elsewhere.
‘Kav Itonut’ reports that the decision has been made, and Degel is going to announce its own candidate in Beit Shemesh, and while the name is yet uncertain, it is likely to be the senior player in that city on the Degel slate, Shmulik Greenberg. Regarding Elad, Degel is willing to permit Porush to continue for backing from Shlomei Emunim elsewhere.
HaRav Baruch Solovechik, chairman of the Vaad Rabbonim of Degel, is expected to rule on the question regarding the Jerusalem mayoral race. The most candidate would be Deputy Mayor Yitzchak Pindrus, or should Degel back the Agudas Yisrael candidate, Deputy Mayor Yossi Deutsch. The other option is to back Moshe Leon, who is viewed as ally of the chareidim, or possibly Minister Ze’ev Elkin of Likud, who is also expected to run.
Shortly before Pesach, Rav Solovechik visited the Gerrer Rebbe, and while their agenda was not made public, it is quite likely the meeting was a cornerstone towards cooperation among the chareidi lists in upcoming elections. It was decided the heads of the chareidi parties would cooperate rather than split the votes in local elections.
Then came the surprise visit by HaGaon HaRav Gershon Edelstein to the home of the Gerrer Rebbe, and this followed a meeting between HaGaon HaRav Chaim Kanievsky visiting Gedolei Yisrael.
Regarding the future of Bnei Brak, it is all but certain this time around, the mayor will be a representative of Degel. The likely candidate is Deputy Mayor Avraham Rubinstein, who enjoys the backing of Rav Kanievsky.
No final official decisions have been announced and what if certain, is the heads of the chareidi parties are busy calculating the deals and possibilities, each seeking maximum success in the frum cities with elections on the horizon.
(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
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One Response
G-d help us. Abutbol or Greenberg? I honestly don’t know which one is worse. People say Greenberg is fairer & more approachable, but I have contacted him a couple of times (on the advice of local askanim) & got zero response.
Instead of choosing a mayor based on level of religiosity, try voting for the best person to drag this city of the abyss. And that might just be someone DL or even (gasp) not yet frum but who is sensitive and respectful to everyone.
Bot these two have done a stand-up job of creating divisiveness and strife, not to mention wasting billiosn of shekels of MY tax money.