Netanyahu's Late-Night Plea to Haredi Leader Fails as Leitner Refuses to Withdraw
Translated & summarized from Zman Yisrael by baba
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu failed to convince Moti Leitner, chairman of the Haredi Public Party, to withdraw from the elections after a late-night meeting. Leitner believes Netanyahu will lose, citing polls showing the right-wing bloc at 54-55 seats, and refused to back down despite offers of government positions. Netanyahu also faces internal concerns from Shas Chairman Aryeh Deri about the right-wing bloc's electoral prospects.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Prime Minister Netanyahu failed to persuade Moti Leitner to withdraw from elections after a late-night meeting.
- Leitner believes Netanyahu will lose, citing polls showing the right-wing bloc at 54-55 seats.
- Netanyahu offered Leitner government positions and budgets, but Leitner demanded financial guarantees.
- Leitner's party aims to draft Haredim into the IDF and integrate core curriculum studies.
- Shas Chairman Aryeh Deri also privately expresses pessimism about the right-wing bloc's electoral chances.
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu spent an entire night attempting to persuade Moti Leitner, chairman of the Haredi Public Party, to withdraw from the upcoming elections. The meeting, which occurred on the Prime Minister's birthday, saw Netanyahu employ his full influence between 2:00 and 4:30 AM to convince Leitner to announce his withdrawal before sunrise. Leitner, whose party aims to draft Haredim into the IDF and integrate core curriculum studies into Haredi education, remained steadfast in his decision to run.
Leitner reportedly told Netanyahu that he believed the Prime Minister was going to lose the election, citing in-depth polls that indicated the right-wing bloc could secure only 54-55 seats, even with Haredi parties collectively reaching 18 mandates. Leitner dismissed Netanyahu's counter-polling data, suggesting his advisors were telling him what he wanted to hear.
Netanyahu had offered Leitner senior government positions and budgets for joint work on Haredi recruitment and educational reform. Leitner, however, requested financial guarantees for these promises, which Netanyahu refused to provide. Leitner also demanded detailed financial commitments for Hesder Yeshivas, expansion of the state-Haredi education framework, and legal changes to enable such frameworks in all communities.
Leitner expressed concern about the Haredi community's integration, noting that 34% of first graders are Haredi, a figure projected to reach 40% by 2030, with many graduates unprepared for the workforce. To Leitner's surprise, Netanyahu was familiar with these statistics. Leitner suggested Netanyahu consult with other Haredi leaders like Aryeh Deri, Yaakov Asher, and Yitzchak Goldknopf, but Netanyahu dismissed the idea, stating they would not agree.
Ultimately, Netanyahu's efforts failed, and Leitner's party will contest the elections, with Leitner estimating they will garner nearly 100,000 votes. The article also touches on the pessimism within other right-wing factions, including Shas Chairman Aryeh Deri, who privately expresses concerns about the bloc's ability to exceed 58 seats, despite public pronouncements of higher numbers. Deri faces internal challenges regarding conscription laws and his party's declining popularity.
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