The Klal Chassidus Party will be running in the Bnei Brak mayoral election, comprised of two former members of United Torah Judaism, Shlomo Kastolitz and Yehuda Marmarstein, who decided to break away from the party. Yigal Guatta formally of Shas has also decided to break away and he too is launching his own party, Yesh Chaverim. The move compelled the city council to convene on Thursday night to determine the candidates and their respective parties.

The Klal Chassidus party enjoys support from Karlitz, Erlau, Nadvorna, and Slonim chassidim, with the remainder opting to stay loyal to UTJ. Belz remains loyal to Degel HaTorah as per the agreement signed in 1989.

Guatta explains he does not feel Shas is truly representing many of the constituents in the city, prompting him to break away. He is hoping to focus on social welfare issues, confident that he will attract voters among the 7,000 of the city’s residents who opted not to vote in the last election.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)