Goldknopf and Tesler Break from Eichler and Porush Amid Rotation Dispute with Degel

The dispute over the rotation agreement between Degel HaTorah and Agudas Yisroel has intensified, with new signs of division emerging inside Agudah itself.

In a letter sent Tuesday night, MK Yitzchak Goldknopf, chairman of Agudas Yisroel, and MK Yaakov Tesler responded to Degel leader MK Moshe Gafni’s demand to enforce the agreement. In their statement, they declared that they are prepared to take the matter to rabbinic leadership or enter formal arbitration but made it clear that they “will not be dragged into unnecessary delays.”

Goldknopf and Tesler also distanced themselves from fellow Agudah members MK Yisroel Eichler and MK Meir Porush, accusing them of causing deliberate delays in deciding whether to comply with the agreement.

According to the two MKs, Rav Moshe Shifman proposed resolving the matter through either a single arbitrator or a zabla panel, in which each side appoints a rabbinic representative and both choose a third together. They said that the entire Agudah faction initially agreed to this approach, but efforts to create a list of mutually accepted names for arbitration have repeatedly been met with “excuses and repeated postponements,” giving the impression of intentional stalling.

In their letter, Goldknopf and Tesler stressed that they are willing to accept any arbitration plan proposed by Gafni, as long as “the names being considered are approved by all members.”

The current conflict stems from the resignation of MK Yitzchak Pindrus, who had served under the Norwegian Law. His departure left the United Torah Judaism alliance — composed of Agudah and Degel — uneven, with Agudah holding four seats and Degel only three. Degel then sent a formal demand that one Agudah MK resign to allow Pindrus to return.

Degel’s position is based on a rotation agreement signed prior to the elections, which stipulates that if United Torah Judaism receives an odd number of seats, the final candidate on the list must resign midway through the term to allow the next candidate to enter, maintaining an equal split.

Agudah sources rejected Degel’s request, arguing that “the eighth seat has already served for more than half a term. If the seventh seat resigns now, the eighth seat would end up serving longer than the seventh. What kind of equality is that? It makes no sense.”

Agudah officials also accused Degel of inconsistency, pointing to a recent dispute over the Committee for Appointing Dayanim. “How are they not embarrassed in Degel? Just a few months ago, we demanded that Degel step aside on the committee for a rotation that was signed in the agreement, but nobody from Degel responded. MK Boruchy remained on the committee and appointed dayanim. We never got an answer. Now suddenly, they remember that there are agreements.”

{Matzav.com Israel}