Degel HaTorah Rabbis Fiercely Oppose Party Takeover Attempt

Senior rabbis within the Degel HaTorah political party have voiced strong opposition to an alleged attempt by certain activists to seize control of the party by ousting veteran lawmakers Moshe Gafni and Uri Maklev. The rabbis, including Rabbi Natan Zochavsky, Rabbi Yosef Efrati, and Rabbi David Cohen, reportedly dismissed initial reports of the move as mere "media noise" but later expressed sharp disapproval upon deeper investigation.

Sources close to the rabbis told "Kikar HaShabat" that they questioned the logic of removing established figures like Gafni and Maklev, particularly Maklev, who is described as a beloved and effective public servant. The rabbis reportedly stated, "It shall not be" and warned that such a move would lead to a new schism within the Lithuanian (non-Hasidic) Haredi community.

Concerns were also raised that alienating the public by ousting lawmakers who followed the directives of senior rabbis could cost the party at least two Knesset seats in upcoming elections. Some prominent rabbis reportedly viewed the attempt as an erasure of the legacy of Rabbi Elazar Shach, the founder of Degel HaTorah.

Meanwhile, sources within the Agudat Yisrael party indicated they are closely monitoring the internal turmoil in Degel HaTorah and plan to leverage the situation to their advantage in coalition negotiations. They suggested that if Gafni and Maklev are indeed ousted against the wishes of senior rabbinical authorities, it could lead to widespread voter apathy among Lithuanian Haredim, potentially reducing Degel HaTorah's demands for Knesset seats.