Moti Leitner is a Knesset candidate for the “Chareidi Public” party, a party that seeks to replace United Torah Judaism and Shas and is trying to bring about a change in chareidi thinking. The party encourages the enlistment of chareidim into the IDF and the introduction of vocational studies into Talmud Torahs, and has even placed a woman on its slate for the first time.

Belaaz has learned from well-informed sources that the Shin Bet fears Leitner may be harmed and is monitoring his daily schedule. According to the details, every morning a Shin Bet representative receives Leitner’s schedule for the day and makes sure there is no location where friction could arise that would endanger his life.

Belaaz has further learned that a week and a half ago, Leitner had already summoned journalists for a statement he was set to deliver near a protest held by the Peleg Yerushalmi over arrests. The statement, however, was unexpectedly canceled. A source tells Belaaz that the Shin Bet was behind the cancellation, having recommended that Leitner call off the event out of concern for his safety.

The Chareidi Public party is not passing the electoral threshold and will likely not enter the Knesset. But the party’s very existence poses a challenge to the chareidi parties, as quite a few chareidim are expected to vote for it.