MKs Moshe Gafni and Uri Maklev were reportedly left stunned by the decision to remove them from Degel HaTorah’s Knesset slate, with associates of the veteran lawmakers claiming that as recently as two weeks ago, messages from the homes of the Gedolei Torah indicated that no changes were expected and that the party’s lineup would remain intact.
The dramatic shakeup, first reported by Matzav.com, will bring to an end the lengthy Knesset careers of two of Degel HaTorah’s most prominent representatives. According to the report, consultations held by Gafni and Maklev toward the end of last week had left them with the impression that efforts to remove them from the slate had been successfully thwarted.
People close to the two MKs said the messages they had received from the homes of the rabbonim until approximately two weeks ago were that everything would proceed as usual and that the existing Degel HaTorah list would remain unchanged.
Their associates are now describing what occurred as an extraordinary “deception maneuver,” saying two highly regarded lawmakers who served the party for decades and brought it considerable respect were ultimately removed from the slate.
Other Degel HaTorah figures, however, are offering a sharply different account of how the episode unfolded.
“Gafni could have finished his role like a king and taken another position in the party. But his people, who disconnected him from the grassroots in recent years, advised him to launch a campaign against his removal that ended in humiliation,” one party source said.
The upheaval became official on Motzoei Shabbos, when Rav Dov Landau sent personal letters to Gafni and Maklev informing them that they would not continue serving in the Knesset as part of a broader effort to bring new faces into Degel HaTorah’s parliamentary delegation.
Those close to Rav Landau emphasized that the decision did not diminish the enormous appreciation for the work performed by Gafni and Maklev over the years. Their public service, they said, was carried out with complete obedience to the Gedolei Yisroel. Particular mention was made of their efforts on behalf of the status of bnei yeshivos, a battle they waged with dedication and loyalty under the direction of the Gedolei Torah.
Nevertheless, after many years of service in the Knesset, the decision was made that the time had come to refresh Degel HaTorah’s representation and bring new representatives into its parliamentary ranks. As a result, the two lawmakers currently occupying the top positions on the Degel HaTorah slate will not return to the Knesset following the next election.
Despite Gafni’s removal from the Knesset slate, Rav Landau asked him to remain in his position as national chairman of Degel HaTorah.
The decision therefore marks a major transition for the party: Gafni and Maklev will leave the Knesset, while Degel HaTorah prepares to move forward with a significantly revamped slate.
Behind the scenes, negotiations over the fate of Gafni and Maklev continued until shortly before Shabbos and resumed immediately afterward. Intensive discussions between the homes of the Gedolei Torah have continued as the sides seek agreement on the composition of the new slate ahead of Tuesday’s deadline for finalizing the lists.
Among the names currently emerging in those discussions are MK Yaakov Asher, who is regarded as representing Rav Landau, and MK Yitzchok Pindrus, who is viewed as representing Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch. Another name under consideration is Moshe Rosenthal, who holds the education portfolio in the Bnei Brak municipality and is expected to serve as a representative of Rav Landau.
In the home of Rav Hirsch, meanwhile, no final decision has yet been reached regarding the identity of an additional candidate to represent his side. One possibility reportedly being considered is Yehuda Weispish, CEO of “HaIchud,” who is close to the Rosh Yeshiva.
Discussions between the respective homes are continuing, with the makeup of Degel HaTorah’s new Knesset slate expected to become clearer ahead of Tuesday’s deadline.
