Degel HaTorah Leaders Moshe Gafni and Uri Maklev to Exit Knesset

Degel HaTorah, a prominent Lithuanian Haredi political party, announced a significant leadership change, with Members of Knesset Moshe Gafni and Uri Maklev informed they will not continue in the next Knesset term. The decision, conveyed via personal letters from Rabbi Dov Landau, head of the Ponevezh Yeshiva, aims to refresh the party's parliamentary representation.

Rabbi Landau expressed deep appreciation for Gafni and Maklev's long service and their dedication to the community, particularly their efforts in defending the status of yeshiva students. Despite this recognition, the need for new blood in the Knesset led to the decision for them to step down. The identities of their successors have not yet been revealed.

While Gafni will leave the Knesset, Rabbi Landau requested he continue as the national chairman of Degel HaTorah, allowing him to remain involved in the party's leadership and institutions. Notably, Rabbi Moshe Hillel Hirsch, another senior rabbinical authority, did not endorse this move and initially refrained from intervening, only deciding not to interfere after significant pressure.

This departure marks the end of an era for Gafni and Maklev, who have been central figures in Degel HaTorah's public and parliamentary activities for decades. They were instrumental in key Haredi community battles, including the status of yeshiva students, funding for Torah institutions and education, Shabbat observance, housing, and economic and legal challenges facing the Haredi public.

Moshe Gafni, a founding member of Degel HaTorah, first entered the Knesset in 1988. He served for decades, holding influential positions such as Deputy Minister of Religious Services and Chairman of the Finance Committee, where he focused on allocating budgets for Torah institutions and addressing the economic needs of the Haredi sector. He became the senior representative of Degel HaTorah after Rabbi Avraham Ravitz's retirement and served as the party's chairman, acting as its primary liaison with government officials.

Uri Maklev joined the Knesset in 2009 after a long career in Jerusalem public service, including roles as a city council member and deputy mayor. In the Knesset, he served as Deputy Speaker, chaired various committees, and held positions as Deputy Minister of Transportation and Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, overseeing economic development for the Haredi sector and Holocaust survivor rights. His work focused on improving public transportation in Haredi areas, public access to services, and addressing challenges faced by Haredi families and institutions.