United Torah Judaism submitted its electoral slate just seconds before Tuesday night’s deadline, following hours of intense internal disputes that culminated in an unusual arrangement allowing the various factions to sign separate agreements with Degel HaTorah.

Under the agreement reached at the eleventh hour, Ger, Vizhnitz and Sanz signed separately with Degel HaTorah, while Shlomei Emunim and Machzikei HaDas, representing Belz, placed their first two candidates on the UTJ slate through a separately registered political party.

With the deadline rapidly approaching, Menachem Shapira rushed to formally submit the completed list to the Central Elections Committee shortly before registration closed.

Shlomei Emunim and Machzikei HaDas stressed, however, that the unusual arrangement should not be interpreted as their departure from Agudas Yisroel.

In a joint statement, the factions said that “מדובר במהלך טכני בלבד, שנועד להבטיח שותפות הוגנת בתוך אגודת ישראל שהופרה לאחרונה” — “This is merely a technical move intended to ensure a fair partnership within Agudas Yisroel, which has recently been violated.”

The leadership of both factions also instructed their remaining candidates on the UTJ slate to sign their candidacy papers in the customary manner as representatives of Agudas Yisroel.

Notably, the joint announcement did not identify the registered political party through which the first two candidates were submitted. Shlomei Emunim officials emphasized that they continue to regard themselves as an integral part of Agudas Yisroel and that the move does not constitute an ideological or political break from the party.

The complicated arrangement followed hours of fierce negotiations and disagreements, much of them centered on the fifth position on the UTJ slate. The dispute had earlier caused an Agudas Yisroel meeting to break down, with participants leaving without an agreement as tensions between the various chassidishe factions intensified.

Meanwhile, Yisroel Porush, the former mayor of Elad and son of MK Meir Porush, was placed in the 13th position on the United Torah Judaism slate.

{Matzav.com}