Haredi Party Leader Refuses to Quit Knesset Race Amid Pressure

Moti Lightner, chairman of the newly formed 'Haredi Public' party, announced Wednesday that he will not withdraw from the Knesset race, despite intense pressure and threats. Lightner stated he is running on behalf of tens of thousands of Haredim who feel unrepresented by existing parties and are suffering from "violent political monopolies."

Lightner revealed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with him late at night and urged him to withdraw his candidacy to prevent a loss of votes for the right-wing bloc. "Out of great respect and much appreciation for the Prime Minister, I met with him at length and heard his proposal," Lightner said. He also claimed that leaders and envoys from the United Torah Judaism and Shas parties have issued "harsh threats" against his party, stating they "will not shy away from anything."

Lightner asserted that the "corrupt monopoly" of established Haredi parties fears the potential impact of his party, which he believes represents a significant, previously ignored segment of the Haredi population. He argued that withdrawing now would allow the old system to continue exploiting Haredi votes and perpetuate poverty among tens of thousands of children.

"I am not withdrawing. We are not withdrawing. We are moving forward with all our might," Lightner declared, addressing various Haredi communities including Torah scholars, soldiers, immigrants, and women. He emphasized that his party aims to build a new political home, signaling the end of the "monopoly" held by United Torah Judaism and Shas.

Lightner questioned the effectiveness of the established parties, noting that despite their influence, critical issues like the military draft crisis and employment for Haredim have not been resolved. He believes a new political force is needed to achieve different results. Recent polls, including one by i24NEWS, show the 'Haredi Public' party falling below the electoral threshold, but Lightner remains optimistic, predicting his party will be the "surprise of the elections."

MK Meir Porush of 'Agudat Yisrael' expressed skepticism about the turnout at a recent party event, suggesting attendees might have previously voted for other parties. The 'Haredi Public' party was founded to address the perceived lack of representation for working Haredim and those serving in the army, advocating for greater integration into employment and the IDF while preserving Haredi identity.