Haredi Party Chairman Admits Election Failure, Vows to Continue

Moti Leitner, chairman of the Haredi Public Party, has admitted to his party's failure in the recent Knesset elections, where they garnered only approximately 9,900 votes. Leitner took personal responsibility for the disappointing result, stating in an open letter to party activists that he and the party "failed the test of results." He apologized to the tens of thousands of Haredi individuals who he believes identify with the party's platform but abstained from voting due to concerns their votes would be wasted.

Leitner explained that while around ten thousand voters trusted the party, many others who supported its ideas chose to vote for non-Haredi parties. He pledged to work to earn back their trust in future elections. The party aimed to present a political alternative within the Haredi community, addressing issues such as yeshiva student conscription and arrests, poverty within the Haredi sector, discrimination, and the lack of job integration tools for graduates of Haredi educational institutions.

Reflecting on the campaign, Leitner acknowledged that some messages could have been phrased differently and that certain political alliances might have alleviated voters' fears of wasted votes. He promised an internal review to examine mistakes and successes and to learn lessons for the future. Despite the setback, Leitner intends to remain active in politics and not disband the party, declaring that their path "has only just begun" and that they "will return."