The committee responsible for selecting the next chief rabbis in Jerusalem met on Thursday in the hope of reaching agreement over the controversy, allegations from Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat, the dati leumi community and secularists, that the committee representation is disproportionate, favoring the chareidi community.

The mayor addressed the committee and explained that while two thirds of the city is non-chareidi residents, the committee representation gives the chareidim a majority.

The meeting on Thursday failed to reach a decisive solution and it was agreement that upon Mayor Barkat’s return from abroad, the committee will convene again in the hope of resolving the issue. This meeting should be taking place in about three weeks.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)