United Torah Judaism List Includes Third Party for First Time Since 1992

The United Torah Judaism party submitted its Knesset list on Tuesday, marking a significant shift as it includes a third faction for the first time since 1992. The list, traditionally composed of Degel HaTorah and Agudat Yisrael, now features 'Chomat Torat Yisrael' as a distinct party. This move, according to reports, stems from grievances held by the Shlomi Emunim and Belz Hassidic groups, who claim ongoing discrimination and delayed budget transfers from the central Gur Hassidic faction within Agudat Yisrael. Meir Porush, a representative of Shlomi Emunim and formerly of Agudat Yisrael, and Elyakim Stark, representing Belz Hassidism, are running under the new party's banner. This separation allows them to receive separate party funding and potentially split from United Torah Judaism if elected.

The top positions on the list are held by Yaakov Asher of Degel HaTorah (1st) and Yitzhak Goldknopf of Agudat Yisrael (2nd). Following them are Yitzhak Pindrus of Degel HaTorah (3rd), Meir Porush of Chomat Torat Yisrael (4th), Moshe Rosenthal of Degel HaTorah (5th), Elyakim Stark of Chomat Torat Yisrael (6th), Yehuda Weissfish of Degel HaTorah (7th), and Yaakov Tessler of Agudat Yisrael (8th). The decision by Porush and Stark to form a separate party is reportedly driven by a desire to avoid being subordinate to the Rebbe of Gur.

This development follows a recent demand from members of the Gur Hassidim to remove Moshe Rot, a representative of the Sanz Hassidim, from the list after he allegedly refused to commit to voting according to the Rebbe of Gur's directives. Porush has historically led the Shlomi Emunim sub-faction, which has occasionally run separately in local elections.