Gafni and Maklev Fight Party Ouster Amid Internal Power Struggle

Members of Knesset Moshe Gafni and Uri Maklev, representing the Degel HaTorah faction, are reportedly making a last-ditch effort to prevent their removal from the party. Sources indicate that associates of Gafni and Maklev have established an "emergency operations center of activists" aimed at mobilizing heads of yeshivas and kollels to meet with Lithuanian leader Rabbi Yitzchak Shaul Kaminetsky and persuade him to oppose their ouster. Concurrently, they are attempting to gather support for a letter from rabbis on the Degel HaTorah council against the removal, but have so far been unsuccessful.

The push to oust Gafni and Maklev is reportedly spearheaded by David Shapira, a key figure associated with Rabbi Elyashiv's household. Shapira is allegedly working to advance MK Yaakov Asher, who is close to Rabbi Elyashiv, to the position of party chairman. This move would expand Shapira's own influence within the party. According to individuals involved in the situation, Gafni and Maklev are "at a loss" and unsure how to halt the impending ouster.