Rav Dov Landau has issued a blistering condemnation of newly established chareidi political parties seeking to draw voters away from United Torah Judaism in Israel’s upcoming Knesset election, accusing their organizers of deliberately undermining the Torah community and warning that anyone who supports them is harming Torah and those who learn it.

Speaking at a major gathering of Gedolei Yisroel in the Boyaner Bais Medrash in Yerushalayim Thursday evening, the rosh yeshiva delivered an unusually forceful address against independent political lists attempting to capitalize on dissatisfaction within the chareidi community, particularly over the ongoing arrests of yeshiva bochurim and the government’s failure to resolve the military draft crisis.

“These new parties, whose entire purpose is to cause votes to be lost, are parties that do not have the approval of the Chachomim. They are parties outside the camp!” Rav Landau declared.

The rosh yeshiva directed his criticism at two groups in particular: parties claiming to represent working chareidim who feel neglected by the established political leadership, and factions presenting themselves as defenders of yeshiva bochurim against military conscription.

“On the one hand, there are parties that incite and entice with false claims that they will supposedly take care of our brothers who work to support their families. On the other hand, there are parties that, under the guise of false zealotry, create the illusion that they will save the yeshiva bochurim from the sword of the draft decree. These parties are nothing but lies, lies and lies!”

His remarks come amid mounting frustration over the detention of yeshiva bochurim for failing to report to military authorities, an issue that has dominated the chareidi political landscape and generated growing anger among voters who believe the established parties have failed to secure adequate protections for bnei Torah.

Rav Landau rejected the notion that the new political movements offer a legitimate solution to those grievances, accusing their organizers of pursuing personal and political interests at the expense of the broader Torah community.

“It is clear to everyone that their entire objective is to cause votes to be lost, driven by cheap interests and crooked calculations. What they all have in common is that their intention is to cause harm, and one must guard against them and distance oneself from them as far as the flight of an arrow.”

The rosh yeshiva went further, warning that responsibility for the consequences of these political efforts extends beyond the candidates themselves to those who assist their campaigns.

“Anyone who assists them should know clearly that he is harming the Torah and harming those who learn it.”

A central concern among the established chareidi parties is that independent lists will attract enough votes to weaken United Torah Judaism without securing sufficient support to cross the electoral threshold. Under Israel’s electoral system, a party must receive at least 3.25 percent of the national vote to enter the Knesset, meaning that votes for unsuccessful lists do not translate into parliamentary representation.

With the election approaching, the possibility of thousands of chareidi votes being diverted to smaller parties has become a serious concern for the leadership of Degel HaTorah and Agudas Yisroel.

Addressing the appeals being made to working chareidim, Rav Landau emphasized that earning a livelihood does not diminish a person’s place within the Torah community or his responsibility to follow the guidance of Gedolei Yisroel.

“Anyone who believes in the Torah and in Moshe His servant, and wants to see his children grow in Torah and yiras Shomayim, whether he is engaged in Torah learning or works to earn his livelihood, is an inseparable part of the Torah world.”

His comments follow a separate meeting Thursday at his home with chareidi businessmen, during which he heard concerns about the difficulties faced by working families, including challenges involving educational institutions and communal representation.

During that meeting, Rav Landau acknowledged those concerns and indicated that he would raise them with Degel HaTorah representatives in an effort to address the needs of families whose fathers work to support their households.

Nevertheless, he made clear in his election address that dissatisfaction with particular policies or political representatives does not justify withholding support from the established Torah parties.

“Even someone who has complaints, objections or questions, none of this has any bearing whatsoever on his practical obligation to vote for the letter Gimmel. By doing so, he sanctifies the Name of Heaven, and if, Heaven forbid, he refrains from doing so, the Name of Heaven is desecrated through him, Rachmana litzlan.”

{Matzav.com}