Degel HaTorah Party Ousts MKs Gafni and Makhlouf Amid Leadership Struggle

The leadership of the Degel HaTorah party has decided to dismiss Members of Knesset Moshe Gafni and Uri Makhlouf, a decision announced by the office of Rabbi Dov Landau, a prominent Lithuanian ultra-Orthodox religious authority. The removal of the two long-serving lawmakers has sparked anger and criticism within the party, with accusations that they were treated disrespectfully, especially after their recent efforts to prevent their exclusion from the electoral list, according to Israeli public broadcaster Kan 11.

The decision is expected to pave the way for MK Yaakov Asher, who is close to Rabbi Landau, to assume a significant leadership role within the party. Gafni and Makhlouf are anticipated to be replaced by new figures on the upcoming electoral list. Rabbi Landau's office stated that Gafni and Makhlouf will leave the Knesset to make way for new representatives, though the Rabbi asked Gafni to continue as party chairman. He also thanked both lawmakers for their efforts in defending the interests of yeshiva students.

This move occurs amidst an internal power struggle over the party's influence and management. Religious authorities Dov Landau and Moshe Hillel Hirsch are reportedly seeking to strengthen their positions within Degel HaTorah by promoting figures they trust to leadership and parliamentary roles, as reported by the newspaper Haaretz. The possibility of replacing Gafni and Makhlouf had been discussed for months, fueled by growing criticism from segments of the ultra-Orthodox public regarding the current leadership's performance, particularly after failed attempts to exempt yeshiva students from military service.

Among the potential successors, MK Yitzhak Pindrus is expected to take the second spot on the party list, while the identities of those filling subsequent positions remain undecided. Names being considered include Gafni's assistant, Moshe Zaluzhny, Deputy Mayor of Beitar Illit Dudi Salz, and Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem Elazar Rauchberger. Attempts to reshape the list began over a month ago, but Gafni and Makhlouf initially underestimated the efforts to remove them. As these efforts gained momentum in the past week, they intensified their contacts with senior rabbis and religious aides to halt the decision, but these attempts concluded without a compromise to prevent their ouster.