Top Rabbi Refuses to Endorse Netanyahu, Citing Mistrust

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and his associates exerted pressure on United Torah Judaism faction chairman MK Yaakov Asher to change the party's decision regarding recommendations to the President, urging them to recommend Netanyahu. Netanyahu himself spoke with Asher multiple times on the matter. Asher, convinced by the arguments, approached Rabbi G.D. Lando, the "Rosh Yeshiva" (head of the yeshiva), seeking permission to recommend Netanyahu. Asher argued that such a recommendation would be practically meaningless and that parallel negotiations with MK Gadi Eisenkot would still be possible. However, Rabbi Lando insisted, refusing to permit a recommendation for Netanyahu. "I don't believe him, he lied to us, so how can we recommend him?" Rabbi Lando stated, instructing Asher to refrain from recommending Netanyahu.

A senior official from the Degel HaTorah party explained that Rabbi Lando's clear directive before the elections was that the party was not part of any bloc. The official expressed disappointment that the Likud party, in particular, did not take them seriously, and these discussions are now translating into actions. The party emphasized it is not part of the "Netanyahu bloc" nor the "change bloc," but rather a "bloc of Torah scholars" focused solely on securing the status of yeshiva students.

Degel HaTorah's willingness to consider political alternatives outside the right-wing camp, potentially cooperating with MK Gadi Eisenkot and the "change bloc," represents a significant move against Prime Minister Netanyahu. The party stated that if Eisenkot can secure support for a law agreed upon by "the great rabbis," they would not rule out cooperation. They are seeking a genuine solution for Torah scholars, not blindly following Netanyahu. The possibility of a complex political maneuver by the "change bloc" suggests United Torah Judaism could provide a safety net for Eisenkot, reducing Netanyahu's bloc to 46 mandates and increasing Eisenkot's to 55. The price for United Torah Judaism's abstention would be an agreed-upon conscription law and the arrangement of yeshiva students' status.

MK Yaakov Asher met with fellow MKs Yitzchak Goldknopf and Meir Porush in Bnei Brak to coordinate a common stance, exploring the option of not recommending any candidate to the President. Porush indicated that Gadi Eisenkot would not approach them. MK Yitzchak Goldknopf stated that the party is not aligned with any bloc and demands a conscription law without sanctions. Avi Gringetz, an advisor to Rabbi Lando, commented that no decision has been made yet, and whatever the rabbis decide will be implemented.

Meanwhile, the Shas party recommended Netanyahu for government formation. MK Michael Malchieli stated that Shas fulfills its promises, and MK Yinon Azulai added that they faced severe violence and public opinion manipulation regarding the conscription law and the Haredi public. Prime Minister Netanyahu, in a video statement, attacked the possibility of a minority government supported by Arab parties, arguing that only a broad national government under his leadership could confront the threat of radical Islam.