New Haredi Party Launches Election Campaign, Criticizes Established Leadership

The newly formed Haredi party "The Haredi Public," led by Moti Leitner, announced its candidacy for Israel's 26th Knesset elections at a launch event in Beit Shemesh on August 23, 2026. The campaign, titled "This Time We Take Responsibility," sharply criticized the existing Haredi political leadership, accusing them of adopting a policy of detachment and failing to address key community challenges. Leitner specifically targeted the Shas and United Torah Judaism parties, claiming they have allowed the extremist Jerusalem Faction to dictate sector policies and called votes for these parties "votes for the Jerusalem Faction's thugs."

The party's platform focuses on preserving Torah study while proposing practical solutions to the military conscription crisis facing the Haredi community. It advocates integrating core subjects like mathematics and English into traditional religious schools (Talmud Torahs) and developing employment programs within the Haredi sector. Leitner called for the establishment of a dedicated Haredi military brigade, stating, "Those who study will receive full protection; those who do not will serve."

The party's candidate list will include representatives from Ashkenazi, Sephardi, and Hasidic communities, aiming to present a broad alternative to the established Haredi parties. The launch event drew hundreds of activists and rabbis. Leitner warned that the Haredi society faces an existential threat and criticized the old leadership's response during recent conflicts as disconnected from reality.

Alongside "The Haredi Public," two other new Haredi parties, "HaKahal" and "Achi," have also declared their intention to run, signaling increased competition for votes traditionally held by Shas and United Torah Judaism. While the electoral threshold poses a challenge for new parties, their emergence threatens to fragment the Haredi vote and complicate the political landscape for veteran Haredi factions. Detailed party platforms on conscription and education will be released in the coming weeks.