Ahead of mayoral elections in Tiveria, HaGaon HaRav Dov Kook is working towards achdus, seeking to unite the chareidi parties for the benefit of the chareidi tzibur at large.

From the rav’s perspective, he is willing to combine representatives of his party, Shas, Yachad and Yahadut Hatorah, so they are all on one united chareidi list. The problem is Rav Kook wants his man to hold the first slot on the list, as Shas is demanding the first slot for its candidate. The process began when Rav Kook and HaGaon Rav Dov Auerbach signed a document joining forces, but Rav Auerbach has since done an about face, and has announced Pinchas Vaknin would join the Shas list headed by Eliyahu Zigdon.

Persons in Rav Kook’s camp are angry, explaining Shas strength in Tiveria is only due to the backing of Rav Kook throughout the years. Now, the rav feels that Shas has betrayed him. Rav Kook wants his man, Avishai Cohen to head a joint list, but for now, Shas has joined Degel Hatorah with the representative of Rav Auerbach, Pinchas Vaknin. There is also the matter of Rav Auerbach and his Peleg Yerushalmi affiliation, but it appears that the rav’s candidate, Pinchas Vaknin, is not aligned with the Peleg, making a union palatable for Degel Hatorah.

Representatives of Shas and Degel Hatorah are scheduled to meet with Rav Kook on Sunday evening in the hope of reaching agreement. Hence, it remains to be determined if the chareidim will unite, or there will be a list of Shas with Degel and Rav Kook with Yachad, once again splitting the chareidi vote. Shas is far from willing to join a list with Yachad at present.

In Tiveria, Yachad received 700 votes in Knesset elections, more or less the same number received by Degel Hatorah, as opposed to Shas, which received over 3,000 votes. Shas however is concerned this time around, Yachad will take votes from the party in the municipal elections.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)