Meir Porush and Hanoch Zeibert Meet Amid Tensions Over United Torah Judaism Split

Following reports that Degel HaTorah is seriously considering running separately from Agudat Yisrael in the upcoming elections, a significant meeting took place this week between Meir Porush, chairman of the Shlomei Emunim faction, and Hanoch Zeibert, mayor of Bnei Brak and political representative of the Gur Hasidic dynasty. The meeting, held in a predominantly Haredi city and lasting several hours, focused on the viability of Agudat Yisrael passing the electoral threshold independently and the potential consequences of a split within United Torah Judaism (UTJ).

The longstanding rivalry between Porush and the Gur Hasidim has historically been set aside before elections but has intensified recently, especially due to disagreements over the military conscription law. A senior Agudat Yisrael official described the meeting as "dramatic," noting the growing animosity between the factions and the unusual nature of the talks given the tensions. Discussions also touched on rumors about the formation of a new "Black Flag" party, allegedly promoted by Gur members.

Degel HaTorah reportedly believes it can surpass the electoral threshold without the Hasidic vote, citing internal data showing it brings over 50% of UTJ’s votes, with many smaller Hasidic groups not voting despite rabbinic instructions. This marks a shift from previous elections when Degel HaTorah refrained from splitting due to fears that Agudat Yisrael would fail to cross the threshold, a concern reinforced by the late Rabbi Gershon Edelstein.

Porush and Degel HaTorah leaders emphasize their desire to end the prolonged conflict over the conscription law, which they see as exacerbated by hardline Hasidic opposition. They aim to return to pragmatic Haredi politics focused on their community’s interests rather than broader right-wing alliances or factional disputes. While no formal decision has been made, all sides acknowledge that after the elections, UTJ will likely split into two official factions.

Notably, no joint meetings between Degel HaTorah and Agudat Yisrael have occurred so far, an unprecedented development highlighting the depth of the current rift. The coming weeks will be critical in determining whether the split will materialize and how it will affect the Haredi political landscape in Israel.