Agudath Yisrael Party Plagued by Internal Strife Over Knesset List

A fierce internal dispute erupted within the Agudath Yisrael party during a council meeting, as negotiations over the party's Knesset list and joint run agreements reached a deadlock, marked by sharp accusations between factions. The core of the drama centered on the fifth position on the list, designated for the Gur faction. During the meeting, Bnei Brak Mayor Chanoch Zeibert read out the proposed list, announcing that the fifth spot would be allocated to a candidate from the Bialla Hasidic dynasty. This move effectively ousted former MK Moshe Shimon Rot, representing the Sanz Hasidic dynasty.

The Gur faction's demand to replace the Sanz representative with a Bialla candidate was justified by their claim that the Rebbe of Bialla is a member of the Council of Torah Sages and deserves representation. This proposal met strong opposition from Minister Meir Porush, leading to a heated exchange that ultimately caused the meeting to collapse without a formal vote.

Simultaneously, a significant delay occurred in signing the overall agreement for the joint run. Representatives from the Shlomei Emunim and Machzikei Hadat factions informed Degel HaTorah's negotiation teams that they were temporarily withholding their signatures due to what they described as alienation and unilateral actions during the council meeting.

Amidst these personnel changes, media figure Yossi Stark addressed the appointment of his brother as the new Belz representative. Stark clarified that the appointment was made based on a prior directive, respecting the honor of MK Yisrael Eichler, and that the move was coordinated with full mutual respect.

In light of these contentious events, criticism is mounting within the political system regarding the ongoing disconnect among senior party officials, particularly as the election campaign enters its final stretch.