Degel HaTorah Splits Erupt Over Advisor Purge Following Gafni, Maklev Ouster

Internal disputes within the ultra-Orthodox party Agudat Yisrael continue as the final list for the upcoming elections remains unconfirmed. Meanwhile, within the Lithuanian faction, Degel HaTorah, significant turmoil has erupted following the decision to remove veteran lawmakers Moshe Gafni and Uri Maklev from the party's slate. A piece published Tuesday in the party's organ, "Yated Ne'eman," stated that the full article had been reviewed by "our rabbis, the great Torah leaders," before publication. The article addresses the overnight replacement of representatives on the Degel HaTorah list, which led to the ousting of Gafni and Maklev.

However, the primary criticism is not directed at the two veteran lawmakers themselves, but rather at a minority of their aides and advisors. According to the article, these aides and advisors allegedly worked behind the scenes to obstruct the leadership changes. "Yated Ne'eman" claims these individuals "harmed their principals and spat in the well from which they drink," by collaborating with media figures and promoting what the paper describes as a "campaign of fabricated slander" against the Degel HaTorah leadership. The publication further alleges that these elements "collaborated with media figures seeking to introduce foreign elements into the Haredi community" and attempted to incite disputes within the Council of Torah Sages.

"Yated Ne'eman" emphasized that the criticism is not aimed at all aides and advisors, but at "a minority of known individuals" who, according to the paper, significantly exceeded their roles. Consequently, a new decision mandates that "starting from the upcoming term, each of Degel HaTorah's public representatives will be required to receive the approval of the movement's Rabbinical Committee for the appointment of an aide, with each appointment to be examined on its own merits." This means rabbinical oversight will now extend beyond the identity of representatives and list composition to include the parliamentary aides and spokespeople for Knesset members.

However, controversy has arisen regarding which rabbis actually reviewed and approved the article's publication. A video from Rabbi Dov Landau's home shows his grandson reviewing the letter with him and explaining that it was also sent to the younger Lithuanian leader, Rabbi Moshe Hillel Hirsch. Rabbi Landau appears to approve the publication without his name being mentioned. In contrast, Rabbi Hirsch's office issued a statement asserting, "The article published last night in Yated Ne'eman was not presented to our master, the head of the yeshiva, Rabbi M.H. Hirsch."