Degel Hatorah Suffers Another Election Blow, This Time In Haifa

If having its candidate for mayor in Elad disqualified by a Lod Court was not enough, Degel Hatorah suffered another blow, this one in Haifa; as the city’s district court disqualified Labor party candidate Einat Kalish-Rotem from the municipal election race. She was backed by Degel Hatorah too.

The Haifa District Court on Wednesday ruled that candidate Einat Kalish-Rotem may not run in the upcoming municipal elections, which will take place on Tuesday, 21 Marcheshvan. The decision was handed down by court president, Justice Dr. Ron Shapira.

At the center of the court’s reasoning: The court ruled that the Labor Party supported Savion, who is also running for mayor.

The judge wrote: “It is regrettable that the Labor Party and the petitioners did not comply with the provisions of the law and the clear instructions of the national supervisor regarding the elections, as detailed in the letter sent to them, and instead of arranging the submission of lists in a proper and acceptable fashion, they chose to ac as they did”.

In short, both candidates were disqualified for technical reasons pertaining to how their lists were submitted to election officials, as the same party listed two candidate for mayor.

Kalish-Rotem appealed the Interior Ministry’s decision to disqualify her after two candidates for mayor, Einat Kalish-Rotem and Yisrael Savion, applied in the name of the same party, the Labor Party.

A few hours before the court’s decision, Kalish-Rotem wrote: “Regardless of the court’s decision, there is no doubt that the public wants me as the next mayor of the city, not the current failed mayor, nor are the children surrounded by violent thugs. Reality is difficult for them. Let them deal with it!”

Shas & Degel Hatorah’s Statement following disqualification of Pindrus in Elad

The following statement was released by the parties on Wednesday night after a court ruled to disqualify the Degel/Shas candidate in the Elad mayoral race, Yitzchak Pindrus.

Today, unfortunately, we experienced another low in the chareidi public. A provocative petition was filed against the candidate of Gedolei Yisrael as part of the attempts to undermine the obligation of obedience to Gedolei Torah, and it was accepted by the court.

Unfortunately, since the beginning of the campaign, there has not been a time during which we did not experience a further deterioration in the values on which we were raised and on which we raise our children. We have had to deal daily with threats against rabbonim (!), Hiring private investigators, distributing slanderous materials against Gedolei Torah in the media, and other things never seen before.

This is a shocking behavior that requires deep soul-searching.

Needless to say, Shas and Degel Hatorah will act with all their might against the unacceptable phenomenon of chareidim who do not hesitate in their efforts to advance themselves, severely harming the Gedolei Torah, raising a hand to Toras Moshe and causing a terrible Chilul Hashem as we experienced this evening.

The parties intend to appeal today’s decision to the High Court, against the bizarre decision, and remain confident that logic and sanity will prevail, and Rabbi Yitzhak Pindrus will run for mayor and win.

Former Jerusalem Mayor Lupoliansky Endorses Yossi Deutsch

Former Jerusalem Mayor Rabbi Uri Lupoliansky is a popular name among members and supporters of Degel Hatorah, and to date, he has remained silent regarding the upcoming municipal elections.

Lupoliansky, 67, who served as mayor of the capital from 2003 to 2008, has now broken his silence and he is not endorsing the candidate backed by Degel Hatorah, Moshe Leon, but has thrown his support behind the lone chareidi candidate in the race, Agudas Yisrael’s Yossi Deutsch.

“Yossi Deutsch is a man of action who knows the city of Jerusalem better than anyone, he works from morning to night, he works for all its residents for many years, and is accepted by the general public in Jerusalem. Deutsch is the most suitable person to serve as mayor of Jerusalem. It takes a little time, but in the end, everyone will support him – and he will be mayor of Jerusalem,” stated Lupoliansky.

The former mayor and Israel Prize laureate Uri Lupoliansky, a Degel Hatorah man, stands firm and unequivocal to Deutsch’s right and declares that he is the right person to serve as mayor.

Lupoliansky made his comments during an interview with Kol Chai Radio, reiterating Deutsch’s commitment to the city along with his years of service, during which he has amassed a wealth of experience while serving as a public servant to all sectors of the city’s population.

Lupoliansky added that Maran HaGaon HaRav Yosef Sholom Elyashiv ZT”L ZY”A always instructed the tzibur to back a chareidi candidate.

Jerusalem Mayoral Candidate Deutsch addresses construction freeze

Jerusalem’s only chareidi candidate for mayor, Yossi Deutsch, released a new video in which he addresses the construction freeze that has prevented major building in the capital during the tenure of current Mayor Nir Barkat, who is completing his second term in office. Deutsch promises the freeze will end and badly-needed affordable housing will be a high priority in his administration if elected.

Court Advises Petitioners To Withdraw Petition Challenging Abutbul’s Election List

The Jerusalem District Court on Thursday, 9 Marcheshvan, received a petition calling to disqualify the list of Beit Shemesh Mayor Moshe Abutbul in the upcoming municipal elections based on alleged violations of regulations pertaining to filing the list with officials. The petition was filed by Richard Press, who feels Abutbul’s candidacy is violating election regulations.

Attorney Yuval Yuaz, who represents Press, detailed the alleged election registration violations in the hope of persuading the court to disqualify the mayor’s bid for reelection.

Yuaz told the court the municipal election law is quite precise, providing detailed instruction pertaining to filing.

Judge Avraham Rubin responded, “I do not intend to play a game. Sometimes the court opts to adopt an interpretation that is not the natural one, but nonetheless possible, and for good reason. When it comes to regulation, the court does not have to stick to one interpretation but may look at things more broadly”.

Abutbul’s attorney, Eitan Haberman, had his say and the two sides duked it out before the court.

Justice Rubin advised Press’ attorney to withdraw the petition, signaling a ruling would not be in their favor.

Bayit Yehudi’s Jerusalem Faction Breaks From National Party In Jerusalem Election

Bayit Yehudi party chairman, Minister Naftali Bennet, announced the party is backing Ze’ev Elkin’s bid to become Jerusalem’s next mayor. Not feeling bound by the party chairman’s decision, the Jerusalem faction of Bayit Yehudi has announced it will be endorsing Moshe Leon, who also enjoys the backing of Shas and Degel Hatorah. Elkin is the Likud candidate, and enjoys widespread support, as he is significantly ahead of Leon in the polls.

Beginning next week, the Jerusalem faction of the party will begin distributing flyers stating, “Leon is the dati leumi community’s candidate for mayor”, highlighting the friction which exists between the national leadership and Jerusalem faction.

Bayit Yehudi Highlights Assimilation Threat To Draw In Voters In Ramle

The Bayit Yehudi party is displaying posters showing a woman in Islamic garb, a hijab, under the banner, “tomorrow, this could be your daughter”, calling on voters to back the datil leumi party’s list in the Ramle elections. Municipal Election Day is on Tuesday, 21 Marcheshvan.

Jessan Munir (Joint List) has announced she will be filing a complaint accusing Bayit Yehudi of racism if the offensive posters are not removed. He accuses the dati leumi party of harming the coexistence that prevails in the city, demanding the immediate removal of the posters. Meretz party chairwoman, MK Tamar Zandberg has turned to the Central Election Committee to intervene, insisting the posters are illegal because they are inciteful as well as hateful, against Muslims.

Bayit Yehudi officials are defending their campaign, stating the party’s position against assimilation is clear, and the party believes the Jewish people “must preserve its national character, tradition, religion and heritage”.

Bayit Yehudi is calling for a respectful election campaign.

Jerusalem Mayoral Candidate Leon Promises Free Daily Parking

Jerusalem mayoral candidate Moshe Leon, who is backed by Shas and Degel Hatorah, focuses on two hours of free parking to each resident of the capital daily in authorized parking areas, which are designated by blue and white curbs. Leon insists citizens of the capital must be able to enjoy limited free parking daily to do what they must and not continue to pay out-of-pocket and support City Hall all the time, as is the case today.

Shas: Know who you are voting for!

Shas’ latest video seeks to use humor to get the message across. On Municipal Election Day, know the candidates, as they all promise the world, but vote for the Shas candidate to be certain the promises are not just empty statements.

Betar’s ‘Anashim’ List Promises to Make Assisting Drop Out Youth a Priority

The ‘Anashim’ party with Yisrael Pechter is placing its focus on the growing number of ‘noshrim’ youth R”L, the youths who leave the derech of the life they were raised to observe.

The party insists that the current administration is doing “nothing” to assist this growing population, and turning a blind eye is not the solution, for it is not going away.

In the accompanying video, the party promises to allocated funding to initiate programs to provide employment and rehabilitation for these youths, who remain precious to their families and the tzibur.

Gerrer Chassidus Mobilizing To Boost Deutsch’s Yerushalayim Mayoral Campaign

The main Gerrer Beis Medrash in Yerushalayim, which is under construction, was decorated on Wednesday with huge billboards for the election of Yossi Deutsch as mayor of Jerusalem as well as Agudas Yisrael for city council.

On Thursday evening, a major election conference was scheduled in the beis medrash, headed by the Gerrer Rebbe Shlita, with thousands of chassidim participating. The event began at 8:30PM on the lower floor.

During the event, gabbai HaRav HaChossid R’ Mendel Binka announced the chassidus backs Deutsch’s bid to become mayor and Agudas Yisrael for city council.

Following the election kenos, chassidim are expected to begin campaigning to boost Deutsch’s chances to emerge the victor in the mayoral race.

In a related matter, the accompanying video shows Deutsch with officials of the Egged driver’s union in the capital, which has announced its support for his bid to become the city’s next mayor.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)