Degel HaTorah Launches Election Campaign, Urges Unity

The Degel HaTorah faction of the United Torah Judaism party launched its election campaign on Saturday night under the slogan "The Right to Be Haredi." The event, held at Kibbutz Hafetz Haim, was attended by representatives of the Lithuanian Haredi faction in local authorities, including MK Moshe Gafni, who was recently removed from the top spot on the party's list.

MK Yaakov Asher, now the leading figure in Degel HaTorah and appointed by party leader Rabbi Dov Lando, praised Gafni as a "great symbol of appreciation and admiration" not only within the Haredi public but also among the general public. Asher suggested that if Gafni were not Haredi, he would have long ago become prime minister.

Addressing relations with coalition parties, Asher criticized figures like Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, stating that while they spoke nicely, they ultimately prioritized their own constituents over the Haredi public. He used the analogy of an etrog, a citrus fruit used in the Sukkot ritual, implying their actions were not genuinely beneficial to the Haredi community.

Asher also referenced a recent gathering of opposition leaders, including Gadi Eisenkot, Naftali Bennett, Yair Lapid, Yair Golan, and Avigdor Lieberman. He noted that despite their personal animosities, they formed an agreement not to attack each other to achieve their common goal. "We need to learn from them," Asher urged, calling for unity within the Haredi public, including activists and media professionals, to advance their objectives. He contrasted this with the perceived effectiveness of media support for efforts to replace Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

MK Gafni, who continues to chair Degel HaTorah's national movement, commented on his demotion, stating that the party follows religious guidance, even when it involves reinterpreting political alignments. He defended his political legacy by highlighting his role in preventing Smotrich's dairy reform, which he claimed would have bankrupted thousands.