Top Haredi Party Leaders Set for Ouster After Decades

In a significant political shake-up within the Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) community, senior figures Moshe Gafni and Uri Maklev are reportedly set to be replaced on the Degel HaTorah party list for the upcoming Knesset elections. The decision, attributed to "great rabbis," follows a "fateful term with few achievements" for the Haredi public, according to the report. Intense negotiations, which continued through Shabbat, have been underway between rabbinic factions to finalize the party's list before the Tuesday deadline.

Behind the scenes, discussions have focused on potential successors. Yaakov Asher, seen as representing Rabbi Landau, and Yitzhak Pindrus, representing Rabbi Hirsch, are among those considered. Moshe Rosenthal, head of education in Bnei Brak, has also emerged as a candidate representing Rabbi Landau. Rabbi Hirsch's faction is still deliberating, with Yehuda Weissfish, CEO of "Ha'Ihud," being considered.

Gafni and Maklev have reportedly exerted considerable pressure, enlisting rabbis and activists to prevent their removal from the list. However, the decision to replace the veteran lawmakers and refresh the party's roster with new names appears to have been made. The ongoing talks are expected to conclude by Tuesday, when party lists must be submitted.