MK (United Torah Judaism) Rav Shmuel Haplert has indicated he does not plan to run for a slot in the national election for the 18th Knesset, he told Ladaat.net.

“A man must know when it is time to retire” he is quoted as saying, adding he is not leaving because of any specific incident.

Rav Halpert began his Knesset career in the 10th Knesset in 1981. Over the years, he served on many Knesset committees, including the House, Internal Affairs & House, Finance, Immigration & Absorption, and Education & Culture. He also served as Deputy Minister of Labor & Social Welfare, Deputy Minister of Transportation and Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office.

The UTJ party in Knesset is a combination of Degel HaTorah, representing the Lithuanian sector and Agudat Yisrael, representing the chassidic sector.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)