Matzav6 hours agoA new chareidi party formed around opposition to the military draft submitted its candidate list for Israel’s 26th Knesset on Tuesday, setting the stage for a potentially significant challenge to the established chareidi parties in the upcoming election.
The party, Tzeva Shachor (“Black Color”) – Defender of the Torah World, formally presented its slate to Central Elections Committee Chairman Justice Noam Sohlberg.
Heading the list is Rav Eliyahu Boimerind, who leads the Ma’atrei Shevi’i network of Friday night kollelim in Eretz Yisroel and is a son-in-law of the late Rav Yosef Neuwirth. The second spot was given to Rav Dror Degani, a rosh kollel, followed by Rav Yonatan Yissachar, also a rosh kollel. Rav Yitzchak Rabin HaKohen, an av beis din in Bnei Brak and head of the Shaarei Tzion kollel network, holds the fourth position.
At the Central Elections Committee, Yaakov Chaim Miller, representing Tzeva Shachor – Defender of the Torah World, initially requested the Hebrew letters “דת” as the party’s ballot symbol. After learning that the letters were already taken, Miller asked for time to consult with party officials. Attorney Dean Livne, acting director-general of the Central Elections Committee, suggested the letters “נר,” which the party ultimately requested.
Party officials said their campaign would focus almost exclusively on fighting efforts to draft yeshiva bochurim and avreichim into the IDF, rejecting proposed compromises over the longstanding draft deferment arrangement.
“The sole overriding objective of our list is to prevent the persecution of religion regarding the draft decree and to act in every legitimate way against the decree,” the party said. “We will not agree to any of the new formulas involving various compromises, other than the longstanding deferment arrangement as it existed and as it was practiced since the establishment of the state. This is the only way, and every other framework or arrangement involving compromises and changes to this format must be fought.”
The party is also touting polling that it says demonstrates that its candidacy could amount to far more than a symbolic protest against the veteran chareidi political establishment.
According to a poll conducted by veteran Israeli pollster Rafi Smith and presented by the party, 22% of the chareidi public supports Tzeva Shachor. Party officials say that level of backing could potentially translate into four to five Knesset seats.
{Matzav.com}
Matzav7 hours agoAfter a turbulent week in Degel HaTorah that saw veteran Knesset members Moshe Gafni and Uri Maklev removed from their positions, Rav Dov Landau issued an unusual video statement Tuesday declaring that the decision to overhaul the party’s Knesset representation was his alone.
The rare video was released from the home of Rav Landau amid widespread public criticism and claims that political operatives and other figures within Degel HaTorah were responsible for the dramatic changes.
Rav Landau, the rosh yeshiva, directly rejected those reports and made clear that he personally decided on the changes, which included the removal of Gafni and Maklev and the placement of Yaakov Asher at the head of the Degel HaTorah list.
“That is a complete lie,” Rav Landau said, responding to allegations that political operatives were behind the move. “I alone decided.”
Rav Landau then raised his voice as he addressed the controversy.
“Forgive me for speaking loudly, because a lie is answered loudly!” he said.
The extraordinary statement came after days of intense criticism surrounding the manner in which the changes were carried out. Some figures within Degel HaTorah had claimed that political operatives were responsible for engineering the ouster of the longtime lawmakers.
Against that backdrop, Rav Landau departed from his usual practice and personally addressed the controversy, seeking to put an end to speculation about who was behind the decision.
His message was unequivocal: The decision to replace the veteran Degel HaTorah lawmakers was his own.
{Matzav.com}
