Veteran Israeli Lawmakers Ousted From Party List Amid Fierce Criticism

Rabbi Dov Landau, the spiritual leader of the Lithuanian ultra-Orthodox community, has decided that Moshe Gafni and Uri Maklev will not be included in the Degel HaTorah party's list for the upcoming Knesset elections. This decision marks the end of nearly four decades in parliament for Gafni, a prominent figure in the Lithuanian ultra-Orthodox sector. While MK Yaakov Asher is expected to head the list and serve as chairman of the United Torah Judaism faction, the ultra-Orthodox media has focused its criticism on the manner in which this transition was handled.

According to an announcement from Rabbi Landau's residence, both Gafni and Maklev were thanked for their years of service, particularly their "struggle for the status of yeshiva students." The statement cited a need for "renewal among Knesset members" as the reason for their departure. Gafni, however, is expected to continue as chairman of Degel HaTorah's national movement. The primary controversy, however, stems not from the decision itself but from the perceived disrespectful way it was executed.

Prominent figures in the ultra-Orthodox media have sharply criticized the handling of the ousting of two of the party's longest-serving politicians. Aryeh Erlich, editor of Mishpacha magazine, stated that even if a generational change was deemed necessary by religious leaders, the party's internal mechanism should have managed the process with more dignity. He described the method of parting ways with the veteran representatives as "ugly and shameful," drawing a parallel to the departure of former MK Rabbi Avraham Ravitz.

Journalist Eli Betan suggested the move signifies a deeper shift in power within Degel HaTorah, potentially diminishing the influence of the party's rabbis and council members while empowering an individual named Dovid Shapira. Betan warned this could transform Degel HaTorah into a party where rabbis are mere figureheads and activists hold the real power, likening it to the trajectory of the Shas party. Yishai Cohen, a commentator for Channel 12 and Kikar HaShabbat, criticized the farewell to Gafni, comparing it unfavorably to how other parties, like Yair Lapid's, handle departures of senior members.

Avi Moskowitz of Kol Barama focused on the timing of the decision, just days before Rosh Hashanah, calling the "media lynching" of the two veteran representatives "unacceptable" and a "disgrace." Chanani Breitkopf, editor of Kikar HaShabbat, labeled the method of informing Gafni and Maklev through media leaks as "rotten, ugly, and unjust," especially given the upcoming emphasis on respecting elders and voting for Degel HaTorah.