New Ultra-Orthodox Campaign Demands Representation in Shas and United Torah Judaism Lists

A new political campaign launched by the "Haredi Public" faction is shaking the ultra-Orthodox political scene in Israel by demanding representation within the Shas and United Torah Judaism (UTJ) party lists for the Knesset. Tens of thousands of ultra-Orthodox individuals have united under this faction and initiated a broad public campaign under the slogan "No Haredi Party Without the Haredi Public," focusing on issues such as poverty, dropout rates, and the economic crisis affecting the community.

In a recorded conversation obtained by C14, a Haredi Knesset member expressed skepticism about integrating new forces into the established ultra-Orthodox parties, stating that the political mechanisms are resistant to change. He advised those seeking new representation to look elsewhere, even suggesting they seek support from Otzma Yehudit's Itamar Ben-Gvir, emphasizing that "the ultra-Orthodox political mechanism is not changing."

The campaign's leader, Moti Leitner, deputy mayor of Beit Shemesh and head of the "Derech" faction, highlighted the unprecedented challenges facing the Torah world, including rising dropout rates and economic hardship. Leitner stressed the need for practical solutions and renewed leadership connected to the grassroots, aiming to strengthen the ultra-Orthodox parties from within.

The campaign has invested over two million shekels in nationwide advertising, particularly targeting ultra-Orthodox population centers such as Bnei Brak, Jerusalem, and Elad. If their demand for representation in Shas and UTJ is not met, the campaign plans to escalate its efforts by mobilizing additional resources and public pressure to secure seats for their representatives in the upcoming Knesset elections.