Degel HaTorah Leadership Shakeup Sees Veteran MKs Replaced

The ultra-Orthodox political party Degel HaTorah has undergone a significant leadership change, with Rabbis Gershon Edelstein and Moshe Hillel Hirsch appointing new Knesset members, effectively replacing long-serving figures Moshe Gafni and Uri Maklev. This move follows a long-standing tradition within the party where spiritual leaders appoint their own representatives to the Knesset. Previous leaders like Rabbi Shach appointed Moshe Gafni, Rabbi Elyashiv appointed Uri Maklev, Rabbi Steinman appointed Yaakov Asher, and Rabbi Kanievsky appointed Yitzhak Pindrus.

Rabbi Gershon Edelstein, who passed away recently, did not have the opportunity to make such an appointment, with some attributing this to his short time in leadership or his declining health. The current appointments by Rabbis Landau and Hirsch are seen as a major upheaval, ousting two of the party's most established and recognizable Knesset members.

The primary beneficiary of this reshuffle appears to be Yaakov Asher, who will now serve as chairman of Degel HaTorah and United Torah Judaism, a position expected to increase his public profile. Despite the significant changes, the article suggests that this does not signal a shift in Degel HaTorah's stance towards the right-wing bloc or Prime Minister Netanyahu. Both Gafni and Asher are described as deeply admiring Netanyahu, while also being disappointed by unfulfilled promises.

Ultimately, the party's support in the next Knesset will hinge on which political faction can deliver a majority for the Haredi draft law, a consensus issue for the ultra-Orthodox parties. Currently, no political entity appears capable of fulfilling this demand, which may be seen as fortunate for Netanyahu.