Not everyone appears to be biting their nails ahead of the Jerusalem runoff election, for it appears leaders of both Shas and Degel Hatorah are confident of the outcome of the mayoral race. So much so, that Shas leader Aryeh Deri and Degel Hatorah official Uri Maklev met for the purpose of deciding how to divide the posts in the new administration. The meeting, which was held on Monday evening in Maklev’s Knesset office, surrounded the distribution of jobs in the next Jerusalem administration. Moshe Leon’s bureau chief was present for the meeting too, as was Shabtai Markowitz, who was Degel Hatorah’s negotiator with Leon. Chaim Biton and Yosef Chaim Kalef were present on behalf of Shas.

During the meeting, the parties raised the need for cooperation between the staff and preparations for the second round. Between Degel Hatorah and Shas, the understandings reached regarding demands that Moshe Leon would have when he was elected mayor, already seeking to coordinate actions in order to ensure coalition partnership.

There are reports that Leon is hopeful that if elected, he will succeed in building a broad coalition, one that will include Ofer Berkowitz and the Hisorarus party.

There were no representatives of Agudas Yisrael at the meeting. Their requests however were heard, including the chair of the Torani Cultural portfolio, a paid deputy mayor post, and the chair of the Planning & Building portfolio. Clearly, Agudah will have to wait in line behind Degel Hatorah and Shas in the cases mentioned.

Regarding the Education portfolio, which is near and dear to the chareidi parties, it appears it will be divided between Degel Hatorah and Shas.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)