The elections in Rechasim were supposed to be quiet. In the Yishuv there was a rotation agreement between the Degel Hatorah candidate and the Shas candidate, with each representative serving as the head of the council for one term.

Until now, the heads of the council under the agreement were Dan Cohen of Shas and Degel Hatorah representative Itche Reich, who is currently completing his term as head of the council.

Shas Chairman Aryeh Deri, is currently discussing this question. Local sources in Shas are asking that former council head Dan Cohen return to his position, but Degel Hatorah vehemently opposes his candidacy. According to the signed agreement between the sides, Degel Hatorah has veto authority.

Hareidim10 News reports that in Paragraph 5 of the agreement, which was signed between the sides five years ago, “A Shas candidate will serve after his current term in the next five years as head of the Authority. The candidate must receive the agreement of Yahadut Hatorah”.

A Shas official is quoted telling Hareidm10, “In the division of responsibility for the various communities throughout the country, the responsibility for the municipality of Rechasim lies with the chairman of the movement, Aryeh Deri. We are committed to the coalition agreements, and so it will be.”

Sources in Degel Hatorah in the Rechasim told Haredim10: “There is no situation in which Shas decided on the identity of the candidate on its behalf without consulting us. There is an agreement – and they will respect it. ”

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)