The Peleg Yerushalmi, which represents those members of the chareidi litvish community who broke away from Degel Hatorah, is working to expand its political base. This means a new strategy is brewing in the upcoming municipal elections. One of the cities in which the Peleg feels it has grown significantly is Beit Shemesh, and as such, it is going to run its own list in its quest for representation on the city council.

In addition, while efforts to reach agreement continue between Degel Hatorah and the Shlomei Emunim faction of Agudas Yisrael, the Peleg is also weighing announcing its own mayoral candidate rather than backing the incumbent, Moshe Abutbul, who in all likelihood will be backed by the other chareidi parties. Such a move would significantly assist the mayoral campaign of Abutbul’s main contender, Dr. Aliza Bloch, who represents the non-chareidi residents of the city, herself being a member of the dati leumi community.

According to a BeChadrei Chareidim report, the Bnei Torah party, which represents the Peleg, is now building its list for the Beit Shemesh race. In the last municipal elections the Peleg ran its own list in the Jerusalem race and earned one seat at the council table, Chaim Epstein, who is one of the city’s deputy mayors.

With Degel working hard to significantly increase its representation on the city council, the planned Peleg move will undoubtedly sabotage Degel’s dream for this election. Peleg leaders in Beit Shemesh explain many supporters live in Beit Shemesh today, confident they can receive sufficient votes to place Yisrael Silberstein at the city council table along with a second person.

BeChadrei adds that Peleg leaders in the city have made contact with leaders of the Breslov community as well as the leaders of the chareidi zealots, who affiliate with the Peleg supporters in Meah Shearim in Yerushalayim. Should the negotiations prove successful, Peleg will be a voice to be heard in the next Beit Shemesh City Council. Regarding the mayoral candidate, the Peleg appears to be searching for the candidate who will represent compromise between Abutbul of Shas and Bloch, amid an awareness the candidate doesn’t have a chance of getting in, but would possibly succeed in preventing Abutbul from being elected for another term.

BeChadrei explains that what has elicited the ire of Peleg leaders in the city is a clause in the proposed agreement between Degel and Abutbul that would halt funding “for non-relevant institutions in neighborhoods”, which Peleg understands is Degel’s planned cut of funding for Peleg mosdos.

The report concludes that senior Peleg officials in the city explain their candidate would also enjoy the support of many disgruntled Abutbul voters who do not wish to support his opponent, Aliza Bloch. This is the case with devout Breslov chassidim and the members of the zealot (Kano’im) tzibur.

In short, despite the ongoing talks that have been taking place between the chareidi parties vis-à-vis the Beit Shemesh elections, if the Peleg faction does as it appears it is going to, it will radically change the realities pertaining to Abutbul’s effort to be elected for a third term as well as the makeup of the city council vis-à-vis the chareidi parties.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)