Associates of outgoing Degel HaTorah chairman MK Moshe Gafni are expressing anger over the decision to remove him from the party’s Knesset slate, alleging that the move was deliberately concealed from them and was driven by internal struggles for control of the Litvish party. Associates of Rav Dov Landau, however, strongly reject that characterization, insisting that Gafni is not being “ousted” but is leaving the Knesset as part of a planned effort to refresh the party’s representation.
Senior figures close to Gafni reacted with shock overnight Motzoei Shabbos after it became official that he will not be included on the United Torah Judaism slate for the next Knesset.
Speaking to Kikar HaShabbat, Gafni’s associates alleged that efforts were made to carry out the change “in the dark,” while people associated with the home of Rav Landau repeatedly denied that such a move was underway.
“It began with rumors, and in the homes of the rabbonim, they denied it in conversations with us, claiming that it was all nonsense and that there were no changes,” Gafni’s associates said. “Journalists who asked people close to the court were also told that there was no discussion whatsoever about removing him and that it was fake news. We discovered this move last week.”
According to Gafni’s associates, once they learned what was happening, they mounted an effort to prevent the longtime MK’s removal.
“There was an attempt here to carry out this move in the dark, to put us to sleep, but we discovered it by chance and tried to prevent the removal. By the end of the week, it appeared that we had succeeded, but on Motzoei Shabbos we understood that the decision had been made.”
Another senior figure close to Gafni expressed deep frustration with the decision, insisting that it was unrelated to the failure thus far to pass a new military draft law addressing the status of bnei yeshivos.
“This is not a decision to replace him because of the failure to pass the draft law; Rav Landau gives Gafni his complete backing on the draft issue,” the source said. “Nor is this a replacement because of Gafni’s ‘age.’ This is about power struggles, and Gafni is paying the price.”
The official decision was announced on Motzoei Shabbos through an updates group associated with the home of Rav Landau. The announcement said that the Rosh Yeshiva had sent personal letters to Gafni and MK Uri Maklev thanking them for their years of public service, which they carried out “in complete obedience to the Gedolei Yisroel.”
The letter explained that “due to the need to refresh the ranks among the Knesset members, the first two will leave the Knesset in order to bring in new representatives.”
According to Kikar HaShabbat, Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch had initially been expected to join the letter but ultimately decided not to become involved in the move and expressed opposition to removing the two veteran MKs.
Marathon discussions were reportedly held toward the end of the week between the homes of Rav Hirsch and Rav Landau. Rav Hirsch reportedly sent an emissary in an effort to persuade Rav Landau to postpone the change and allow Gafni and Maklev to remain in place for the coming election.
Senior figures close to Rav Landau, however, rejected the claims being made by Gafni’s associates and disputed the very description of the decision as an “ouster.”
“Gafni has known for a long period that discussions were taking place about refreshing the list. This is not an ouster, and it is wrong to speak about an ouster,” they said. “There is tremendous appreciation for Gafni and a great deal of gratitude. The Rosh Yeshiva decided on this dramatic step because of the need to refresh the list.”
Another figure in Rav Landau’s home told Kikar HaShabbat that those around the Rosh Yeshiva deliberately refrained from publicly campaigning against Gafni or Maklev while the discussions were underway.
“Every journalist who dealt with the Gafni story knows that we did not brief against Gafni and Maklev and did not speak against them. We did not cooperate with the media discussion,” the source said. “This is a decision by the Rosh Yeshiva to refresh the list. This is not an ouster. There were those who tried forcefully to portray the event as an ouster in order to prevent the move, and ultimately they primarily harmed Gafni’s good name.”
The competing accounts underscore the deep tensions now surrounding one of the most significant changes in Degel HaTorah’s political leadership in years, with Gafni’s camp portraying his departure as the product of an internal battle for control while Rav Landau’s associates maintain that the decision was a respectful and necessary transition intended to make room for a new generation of representatives.
{Matzav.com}
