Degel HaTorah Party Weighs Ousting Top Officials Gafni and Maklev

Within the Degel HaTorah party, there are assessments that senior Knesset members Moshe Gafni and Uri Maklev may be removed from their positions, potentially as early as Saturday night. Knesset Member Yaakov Asher, who is close to Rabbi Dov Lando, a prominent Lithuanian Haredi leader, is expected to head the party. The move is reportedly being spearheaded by David Shapira, a key figure in Rabbi Lando's circle and formerly a confidant of previous Haredi leaders.

Gafni and Maklev have reportedly exerted significant pressure in recent days to delay this decision, but it appears to have been unsuccessful. A statement from the party, identified as representing the Haredi public, criticized the current "bad term" of Haredi representation, accusing party operatives of prioritizing self-preservation and replacing disconnected representatives. The statement asserted that Haredi voters would hold them accountable at the ballot box.

This potential leadership change comes just days before the deadline for submitting Knesset lists. Behind the scenes, a maneuver is underway that could end the political careers of Gafni and Maklev, two of the party's most senior figures. The internal struggle primarily involves two central leadership centers within the Lithuanian Haredi community: the households of Rabbi Dov Lando and Rabbi Moshe Hillel Hirsch.

This power struggle aims to solidify influence within the Lithuanian public and shape the composition of the next Knesset. Several factors are converging, including anger in the Haredi street over the political leadership's failure to resolve the military conscription issue, with some criticism directed at the veteran MKs. This is compounded by the ongoing power struggle among various factions within the Lithuanian community and a perceived need to "rejuvenate" the party's list.

However, beneath the seemingly innocuous goal of "refreshing the ranks" lies a larger battle for the future identity of Degel HaTorah and control over its political representation after the upcoming elections.