Haredi Party Chairman Admits Election Failure, Vows Future Return
Translated & summarized from Arutz Sheva by baba
Moti Leitner, chairman of the Haredi Public Party, admitted his party's failure in the 26th Knesset elections, taking personal responsibility and apologizing to supporters. He vowed to learn from mistakes, particularly regarding fears of wasted votes, and to continue pursuing a political alternative within the Haredi community. Leitner highlighted the party's focus on issues like discrimination, poverty, and the draft crisis. He thanked supporters and pledged to return in future elections.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Haredi Public Party Chairman Moti Leitner admitted his party's failure in the 26th Knesset elections.
- Leitner took personal responsibility for the electoral outcome and apologized to supporters.
- He vowed to learn from mistakes and continue working towards a political alternative.
- The party focused on issues like discrimination, poverty, and the draft crisis.
- Leitner promised to return in future elections despite the disappointing result.
Moti Leitner, chairman of the Haredi Public Party, has published an open letter taking personal responsibility for his party's failure in the 26th Knesset elections. He apologized to supporters who did not vote due to fears of wasted votes and pledged to learn from the experience for future elections. "I failed. We failed the test of results," Leitner wrote, acknowledging that while thousands of supporters voted, he could not convince tens of thousands more Haredim who identify with the party's platform to cast their ballots for them. He admitted that the party did not adequately address concerns about crossing the electoral threshold, stating, "There are things that could have been done differently. There are messages we should have refined, sweetened, and distilled, and others who claim we should have been stricter. There are connections that could have alleviated the fear of many supporters regarding wasted votes."
Leitner announced an internal review of the campaign and its decisions to understand the mistakes and successes. Despite the electoral setback, he affirmed the party's core messages, which aimed to address long-neglected issues within the Haredi community. These include discrimination, the draft crisis, poverty, and the difficulties faced by graduates of Haredi educational institutions in entering the workforce. He highlighted the party's efforts to bring attention to "painful discrimination," the "lack of response to the draft issue that led to the arrest of yeshiva students and the desecration of God's name," and "shameful poverty that has become an ideology for us, sending hundreds of thousands to run between charities every month."
Leitner thanked the ten thousand voters who supported the party, as well as activists, staff, list partners, and his family. He also congratulated the elected Haredi Knesset members, emphasizing that the party's struggle was always "for" their community and the entire nation, not against anyone. He concluded with prayers for the well-being of yeshiva students and IDF soldiers. Despite the disappointing outcome, Leitner made it clear he intends to continue seeking a political alternative within the Haredi public, stating, "This path did not end on election day. It has just begun. We will build and be built. We will return."
