Ultra-Orthodox Parties Near Deal on Joint Knesset List

Negotiations between the ultra-Orthodox parties Agudat Yisrael and Degel HaTorah have reached a significant breakthrough regarding their joint list for the upcoming 26th Knesset elections. The parties are reportedly close to agreeing on the allocation of spots on their shared slate, aiming to prevent disputes that arose in the previous Knesset.

The emerging agreement includes provisions for rotation based on the list's electoral success. If the joint list secures exactly seven seats, Degel HaTorah would not be required to rotate its eighth-place position. Should the list achieve eight seats, Agudat Yisrael would be exempt from rotating its ninth-place seat, which is designated for Degel HaTorah.

Furthermore, a consensus appears to be forming to transfer the tenth seat, initially allocated to Agudat Yisrael, to Degel HaTorah. This adjustment would significantly alter the balance of positions between the two factions. Notably, under the proposed framework, if Degel HaTorah secures the seventh seat, it would hold it exclusively, avoiding the need to share it with Agudat Yisrael through a rotation agreement.

This arrangement is intended to prevent a recurrence of the situation in the previous Knesset, where Degel HaTorah ended up with only three Knesset members despite the list winning seven seats, due to disagreements over the rotation for the seventh position. The parties are now focused on finalizing minor technical details before the official list submission deadline next week.