MK Avraham Ravitz of Degel Hatorah
צילום: אילן מרסיאנו
Ultra-Orthodox factions eyeing union
Degel Hatorah, Agudat Yisrael in negotiations to run as one faction in upcoming March 28 elections
The waves of the latest upheaval in Israel’s political landscape have raised the concerns of the ultra-Orthodox community, with negotiations underway for an ultra-Orthodox parliamentary fusion.
Two major ultra-Orthodox factions have held talks Thursday to finalize plans for reunification, allowing both camps to run under one factional banner in the next general elections slated for March 28.
Degel Hatorah and Agudat Yisrael fear that the latest political developments will see the five Knesset seats they jointly hold dwindle when the election results are published in the early morning hours of March 29.
Let's discuss common election platform
A breakthrough in reunification talks was achieved when Agudat Yisrael dropped demands that Degel Hatorah apologize for deciding to break away from Yehdut Hatorah, the party that united both factions before the general elections for the current Knesset.
Last week, Ynet published a letter by Deputy Minister of Social Affairs MK Avraham Ravitz (Degel Hatorah) addressed to Agudat Yisrael chairman asking for the “immediate” formation of a joint team to negotiate reunification.
Agudat Yisrael received the initiative with open arms and wrote back: “We received you inquiry about the possibility of running together in the elections. We are happy that you are reversing the split you have caused. We agree to discuss a common election platform.”
Despite the breakthrough, few hurdles remain in the way as Agudat Yisrael set the rules of the game with the clarification that its rabbis will be calling the shots. Agudat Yisrael placed the first condition for reunification in the form of a warning that excessive interference from Degel Hatorah rabbis, namely rabbi Yosef Shalom Elyashiv, will not be accepted.
