Eretz Yisroel moved another step closer to elections Sunday night after Degel HaTorah chairman MK Moshe Gafni met with the Slabdoka Rosh Yeshiva Rav Dov Landau, who instructed the Degel HaTorah representatives to support dissolving the Knesset in Wednesday’s vote.

Following the meeting, a statement released from the home of Rav Landau said that Gafni arrived together with the new rov of Ramat Hasharon, Rav Yitzchok Edelstein, accompanied by Bnei Brak deputy mayor Menachem Shapiro, for brachah and consultation with the Rosh Yeshiva.

The statement added that “Maran repeated and emphasized the message delivered last night, that the members of Knesset of Degel HaTorah are to vote in favor of dissolving the Knesset on Wednesday.”

Earlier today, the home of Rav Landau informed the media that “the members of Knesset of Degel HaTorah were instructed last night by Maran Rav Dov Landau not to be dragged into political games and to support dissolving the Knesset this coming Wednesday.”

According to a senior Degel HaTorah source, Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu is attempting to stall the dissolution process in order to gain additional time and push elections off until October.

The source claimed Netanyahu is using the chok hagiyus issue as a political tactic while trying to coordinate elections for October, something strongly opposed by Yahadus HaTorah.

“What do you do when you want to gain time?” the senior source explained while outlining what he described as Netanyahu’s strategy. “You tell the chareidim there is suddenly a breakthrough in obtaining a majority — when there is no majority. They tell Boaz Bismuth to hold committee discussions, and according to the attorney general there still need to be another two or three discussions before the law can be brought for a reading.”

The source further claimed Netanyahu is currently freezing advancement of the Knesset dissolution bill.

“And this way he gained another week or two,” the source added. “Even if afterward they want to bring a dissolution bill, the Elections Committee will not allow it because it will not be able to organize itself according to the required timetable.”

A senior Agudas Yisroel official reportedly confirmed the claims and sharply criticized the Prime Minister, saying, “And once again there is no majority and once again they are lying to the chareidim.”

The comments reflected the deep frustration among the chareidi parties over the ongoing handling of the chok hagiyus negotiations.

Unless there is a dramatic last-minute development, the Knesset is expected this week to approve the preliminary reading of a bill to dissolve the Knesset, bringing Israel significantly closer to elections in 2026.

Still, the political picture remains uncertain. A renewed war or agreements with at least some of the chareidi factions could still delay elections. At this stage, the position of Shas remains unclear, though current indications suggest the party may ultimately align with Netanyahu and support postponing dissolution efforts.