Degel HaTorah Leaders Shocked by Knesset Exclusion After Assurances

Members of Knesset Moshe Gafni and Uri Makleb have been officially removed from the Degel HaTorah party's list for the upcoming Knesset elections, a decision that has reportedly left them in shock. According to sources close to Gafni and Makleb, they were assured until just two weeks ago that everything was proceeding as normal and that the party's Knesset list would remain unchanged. Those close to the ousted lawmakers are now calling the situation a "deceptive maneuver," expressing dismay that two long-serving and respected members who brought honor to the party have been removed.

Conversely, other figures within Degel HaTorah suggest that Gafni could have concluded his tenure gracefully with another role in the party. They claim his associates, who allegedly isolated him from the party's grassroots in recent years, advised him to campaign against his removal, which ultimately resulted in his "humiliation."

Rabbi Gershon Edelstein, a leading Rosh Yeshiva, formally notified Gafni and Makleb of their exclusion in personal letters over the weekend, citing a need for renewal within the party's ranks and the introduction of new representatives. The letters acknowledged their significant contributions over the years, particularly their dedicated efforts in advocating for yeshiva students, which were carried out in accordance with the guidance of senior rabbis. Despite this recognition, the decision was made to refresh the Knesset delegation.

Rabbi Edelstein reportedly asked Gafni to continue serving as the national chairman of Degel HaTorah. The final decision means Gafni and Makleb will leave the Knesset, and Degel HaTorah will present a new list. Behind the scenes, negotiations regarding their removal continued intensely until the Sabbath and resumed immediately afterward, with discussions aiming to finalize the list before the Tuesday deadline. Key figures involved in these talks include Yaakov Asher and Yitzchak Pindrus, representing different rabbinical factions, and Moshe Rosenthal, who may represent Rabbi Edelstein's interests. The faction aligned with Rabbi Hirsch is still considering its candidate, with Yehuda Weispeish being a potential choice.