Haredi Party Leader Refuses to Quit Race, Claims Election Surprise

Nine days before the elections, Moti Lightner, chairman of the "Haredi Public" party, is rejecting pressure to withdraw his party from the Knesset race. Despite polls showing the party failing to pass the electoral threshold, Lightner insists they will surprise voters and is even appealing to religious Zionist supporters. At an election rally in Jerusalem, Lightner sharply criticized the Shas and United Torah Judaism parties.

Lightner stated Sunday that his party would not withdraw from the Knesset race despite political pressure and recent polls indicating they would not pass the electoral threshold. He rejected Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's attempts to have the party withdraw before the upcoming elections, declaring his intention to continue the campaign until election day. "We do not have the privilege to withdraw. We must not withdraw. We have a vast public that expects us to represent them," Lightner said. He claimed that support for his party is much greater than reflected in the polls, asserting, "The momentum towards us is immense, we will be the surprise of the elections."

His remarks followed three polls published Sunday in which the "Haredi Public" party did not pass the electoral threshold. However, the party claims to be observing significant growth on the ground. A broad campaign has been launched in Haredi communities to secure enough support for two to three Knesset seats. The party has also decided to expand its outreach to the religious Zionist public, establishing a dedicated committee to appeal to voters in that sector. Party sources indicate that in-depth surveys suggest tens of thousands of religious Zionist voters currently lack political representation, particularly those with right-wing views who are dissatisfied with existing right-wing parties' support for Haredi parties' agendas, especially concerning the integration of Haredim into military service.

As part of this effort, Lightner and party candidate Dr. Nechumi Yaffe are scheduled to visit several communities, including Alon Shvut and Ganei Modi'in, in the coming days to broaden the party's support base. The party held its main election rally in Jerusalem on Saturday night, attended by hundreds of activists and supporters. During his speech, Lightner strongly criticized the leadership of Shas and United Torah Judaism, accusing them of ignoring the needs of working Haredim, breaking promises on education, and remaining silent in the face of attacks on Haredi rabbis and soldiers.

Lightner argued that voting for the established Haredi parties is a "vote to the trash" and supports the status quo of "corrupt operatives." He presented internal party polls claiming significant support within the Haredi public, suggesting they have at least 11% support, compared to Shas's 15%, with many undecided. He also emphasized the party's commitment to supporting Haredi men who choose to serve in the army, promising them respect and protection from extremists. The "Haredi Public" party also aims to represent working Haredim, advocating for their equal status in Haredi society and promoting English and math studies in educational institutions.