Deutsch Campaign Working Against Deri & Leon To Gain Rav Cohen’s Support

Shas party chairman, Interior Minister Aryeh Deri, is working hard to persuade Chacham HaGaon HaRav Shlomo Cohen Shlita, head of the Moetzas Gedolei Torah of Shas, to officially endorse Jerusalem mayoral candidate Moshe Leon.

In the Ashkenazi camp, Degel Hatorah officials are negotiating with Yossi Deutsch, the chareidi/chassidish candidate, to determine if the litvish party will support his bid to become mayor. Deutsch’s team is also working to win the support of Rav Cohen, working against Leon and his chief supporter, Aryeh Deri.

In yet another development, Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman, who heads the Yisrael Beitenu party, is applying pressure on Deri to announce that he is officially backing Leon before Degel Hatorah reaches agreement with Deutsch, which could have an impact on Shas’ decision regarding which candidate to back.

Kikar Shabbos News reports that Lieberman’s advisor on chareidi affairs, Avi Abuchatzera, who is known to be close to chareidi politics, particularly Shas, is involved in pushing the senior cabinet minister’s position.

Mayoral Candidate Deutsch Hoping To Gain Degel’s Backing

Jerusalem mayoral hopeful Deputy Mayor Yossi Deutsch is hoping to gain the endorsement of the Degel Hatorah litvish faction of Yahadut Hatorah. Deutsch is a member of the Agudas Yisrael chassidish faction of the chareidi party.

Deutsch has recently held meetings with HaGaon HaRav Baruch Solovechik, with Kikar Shabbos News adding on Thursday, 4 Tishrei, “there have been intensive efforts [towards gaining Degel’s backing] in the past 24 hours”.

Rav Solovechik is a member of the Degel rabbonim in Yerushalayim, and his approval of the candidate is critical towards the candidate receiving Degel’s support. One of the conditions for Degel’s backing will be a 50/50 list for city councilmen, half from the litvish faction and the remaining half from the chassidish faction.

Kikar adds that sources close to the talks stress nothing has been finalized to date and one must realize the delicate talks can “explode” at any given time.

HaGaon HaRav Ba’adani Praises Porush But Refuses To Become Officially Involved In Elad Race

HaGaon HaRav Shimon Ba’adani Shlita, a member of the Shas Moetzas Chachmei HaTorah, has nothing but words of praise for Elad Mayor Yisrael Porush, but refuses to become officially involved in the machlokes surrounding the race. in his letter released on the matter, the rav addresses the elections in Elad, reminding the tzibur how much he feels Mayor Porush has assisted the community in the past five years.

The letter, without a doubt, is a most unwelcome introduction into the race as Rav Ba’adani sits on the Shas Torah Council, but party chairman, Aryeh Deri, is working tenaciously to oust Porush. Deri feels the city, which is predominately Sephardi, should be run by a Sephardi mayor, negotiating with Degel Hatorah to reach agreement. The talks are trilateral, concerning Elad, Beit Shemesh and Yerushalayim. While Degel and Shas have not yet reached agreement, they both want to get Porush out of office.

Rav Ba’adani uses the letter to explain how Porush has been working “quietly and effectively, avoiding machlokes” during his tenure. He concludes expressing his hope that the “quiet will return and continue in Elad”.

Rosenthal Fighting For His Political Career In Telshe Stone

The long-time Mayor of Telshe Stone, Avraham Rosenthal, has made his position clear, that he does not plan to abide by the desire of Degel Hatorah leaders to step down. He explains that over his years in office, spanning decades, he has always been faithful to the words and instructions of the Rabbonim and Gedolim Shlita of the party and if and when they instruct him to step down, he will, but not before.

On motzei Shabbos, Degel Hatorah officials convened to discuss the situation in Telshe Stone and other cities pertaining to upcoming municipal elections. BeChadrei Chareidim reports that MKs from Degel met on motzei Shabbos in Bnei Brak with the party’s rav, HaGaon Rav Natan Zuchovsky, Bnei Brak Deputy Mayor Menachem Shapira and others, including rabbonim. They were presented with a situation update regarding the elections in Elad, Beit Shemesh, Tiveria and Modi’in Illit.

They also explained how Yitzchak Ravitz has already registered his home address in Kiryat Yearim (Telshe Stone) and he is ready to represent the party in the elections. Now, it remains the task of the Gedolei Yisrael Shlita to determine who will be the candidate, Rosenthal or Ravitz. The matter is being brought to HaGaon HaRav Gershon Edelstein Shlita to render a decision.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)