Haredi Public Holds Election Conference, Key Parties Absent

For the first time in the current election cycle, the state-Haredi public held an election conference in Jerusalem on Wednesday, where representatives from various parties discussed pressing issues such as education, family needs, and women's representation. Notably, the ultra-Orthodox parties Shas and United Torah Judaism chose not to attend the event, which took place at the Begin Center.

The conference, organized by the state-Haredi public, focused on the future of state-Haredi education, the needs of families and communities, and the representation of Haredi women in the Knesset and decision-making bodies. "Only we will take care of ourselves," stated Nachumi Yaffe, representing the Haredi public. "The Haredi community is ours, the children looking for a place are ours, the women who need a voice are ours."

Minister Shlomo Karai urged attendees to vote for parties that would not waste right-wing votes, suggesting that Likud could accommodate Haredi representation. Yaffe responded that their voters are right-wing and they intend to serve them, indicating they would likely not align with the ultra-Orthodox parties. She criticized the "lie of two phones, the lie of double lives, the lie of taking care of myself, my family, and jobs while ignoring the rest of the Haredi community."

Efrat Shokron, one of the conference organizers, criticized Shas and United Torah Judaism for their absence, stating, "The Haredi parties operate with a policy of 'transport and don't listen' towards their voters." She added, "They count our votes, but they don't count us. They are accustomed to treating the Haredi public as a force to be mobilized, not persuaded."

At the end of the evening, participants signed the Haredi Women's Charter, launched the previous week, which calls for advancing the needs of Haredi women and amplifying their voices in decision-making positions. The charter addresses nine urgent areas: education, women's health, violence prevention, employment, divorce, welfare, community, culture, and representation.