Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu continues efforts to prevent early elections, including a meeting Sunday with Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon, with Mr. Kahlon currently favoring early elections. Interior Minister Aryeh Deri, who heads the Shas party, announced he is not scared of elections, but will also go along with efforts not to dissolve the Knesset, as Mr. Netanyahu hopes will be the case.

Degel Hatorah officials however are vocal in their opposition to early elections, primarily due to the need to pass a new draft law, seeking to avoid High Court interference in deciding the fate of Bnei Torah; the bochrim and avreichim learning Torah nationwide. Kikar Shabbos News reports an unnamed senior Degel official adds that in light of the hostility that surrounded the Jerusalem mayoral race, it appears Degel and Agudas Yisrael will not run under the united Yahadut Hatorah banner in the next Knesset elections.

YWN-Israel has already reported there are signs in the political arena that a deal is in the words between Degel Hatorah and Shas, leaving Agudas Yisrael on its own.

The “senior official” is quoted explaining Degel does not know how many difficulties it will face in passing the draft law and elections, but at present, it feels being tied to Agudas Yisrael is not the answer as the two failed to achieve progress in negotiations surrounding election races in a number of cities, including Jerusalem and Tzefas.

Referring to recent polls, Degel does not know the positions of former IDF Chief Benny Gantz or MK Orli Abekasis-Levi vis-à-vis the draft law, and this too weighs in regarding the party’s decision. The poll shows both will be forces to contend with in the next election, and this too weighs in on the Degel position to try to continue the term of the current administration rather that gamble the fate of a new draft law on personalities with whom they remain unfamiliar with at present.

He adds “The Prime Minister must lead to early elections and not be led, as is not the case today. If he doesn’t lead, his authority is compromised and this will result in a bad impact for us. We don’t know how another prime minister will act towards us”.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)