A new haredi (ultra-Orthodox) political party, named “Haredi Public,” was launched on Sunday ahead of the upcoming elections, with the stated goal of securing a spot in the Knesset to bridge the “disconnect” between the haredi population and existing political leadership.
The party has demanded that a representative from their ranks be included on the lists of the two haredi parties in the Knesset – United Torah Judaism and Shas.
The party stated that the demand stems from “a growing understanding that the challenges facing the haredi sector have become a genuine threat to the future of the haredi public in Israel.”
The faction will be led by Moti Leitner, deputy mayor of Beit Shemesh, who stated he has been continuing negotiations with senior haredi party officials over the demand for representation in the Knesset.
It noted that more than NIS 2 million has been invested in the new campaign so far.
The party launched a large-scale advertising campaign on Sunday at the entrances to and exits from major haredi cities, focusing on Bnei Brak, Jerusalem, and Elad.
New haredi party calls to address arrests of draft dodgers
It calls to address the issue of arrests of haredi draft evaders who study in Yeshiva.
It also calls to address “deep poverty within haredi society, and dropout rates among haredi youth.”
The faction noted that unless the haredi parties – Shas and United Torah Judaism – accept its demand for representation, the campaign will intensify, and its leaders will continue raising funds to expand it.
Leitner explained that he believed the “Torah world is under an unprecedented attack, and tens of thousands of yeshiva students and kolel scholars have become targets.”
The current haredi parties in the Knesset include the Sephardic Shas Party and the Ashkenazi United Torah Judaism Party, which is a joint list made up of Degel Hatorah and Agudat Yisrael.
Haredi parties advance legislation against enlistment amid IDF manpower crisis
The haredi parties have continuously encouraged the coalition to advance legislation that would not increase haredi enlistment.
The IDF has repeatedly warned of an urgent manpower shortage after more than two years of war.
A series of legislation was advanced by the haredi parties – with government backing – ahead of the Knesset’s recess before the elections, which critics argue encourages draft evasion, even amid the IDF’s severe manpower crisis.
Legislation had also been passed last week to enshrine Torah study in the country’s Basic Law, which is expected to open the ability for Yeshiva students to receive state benefits.
The haredi parties had boycotted coalition voting when legislation they were seeking to advance was stalled.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ruling Likud party has relied on the haredi parties as key coalition partners for years.
Elections are scheduled to take place on October 27.
Source:
www.jpost.com
