Leaders of Yahadut Hatorah have stated numerous times of late that they are firmly behind Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, whom they will recommend to establish the next coalition government.

That said, a secret meeting was held this week between MK Yaakov Asher of Degel Hatorah and Benny Gantz, chairman of the Blue and White party. According to BaKehilla correspondent Yaakov Rivlin, the meeting lasted for over two hours.

He also reported that faction chairman, MK Avi Nissankorn, met with Degel Hatorah leader MK Moshe Gafne at least twice during the past weeks; in the Degel headquarters in Bnei Brak.

Questions surrounding the chareidi loyalty to Netanyahu are added to a report in this week’s Hamodia, stating Agudas Yisrael’s Yaakov Litzman met with MK (Likud) Gideon Saar, a meeting intended to address the era after Netanyahu. Litzman vehemently denied the report, a copy of which was sent to the Prime Minister’s Office. Litzman sent an angry letter to Hamodia in response.

Gafne on Thursday reiterated his commitment to Netanyahu, telling Galei Tzahal (Army Radio) that while the left-wing pays “a million times more than the right, I remain true to ideology”, stating emphatically the party stands behind Netanyahu only.

He did add however, “There is no veto on Blue and White, but I will not sit with Yair Lapid in a coalition under any circumstances.” He added, “there is no significance to my meetings with representatives of Blue and White”.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)