As expected, the secretariat of Agudas Yisrael has given its approval for Yossi Deutsch to become a candidate in the Jerusalem mayoral race. The forum convened on Tuesday, and gave its approval for Deutsch, in the hope he will be viewed as the ‘chareidi candidate’ and thereby enjoy backing from all the chareidi camps, chassidish, litvish and Sephardim alike.

Chairman of the Agudas Yisrael Center in Jerusalem, Deputy Education Minister Meir Porush said during the meeting that “it is clear that Agudas Yisrael alone cannot muster the maximum number of votes. We must work in full cooperation and coordination with the Degel Hatorah faction, as we have been campaigning together for nearly thirty years in Jerusalem, Bnei Brak and the Knesset. I am certain that this time we will reach full agreement and as one brigade we will enlist the support of all the Torah-observant publics in the city.”

This said, prior to the meeting, Degel Hatorah officials announced they are still contemplating their own ‘litvish’ candidate in the Jerusalem mayoral race, a move that would undoubtedly split the chareidi vote.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)