Understandings reached in the AGO: All demands of the Porosh-Eichler axis were accepted

May 2, 2022   

The pressure exerted by the Meir Parosh-Israeli Eichler axis on the Yaakov Litzman-Yaakov Tessler axis within Agudat Israel, while giving United Torah Judaism a negative image of a divided faction, was successful. As you may recall, more than a year ago, a conflict developed within Agudat Israel over the positions on the joint list. MK Yisrael Eichler, who represents Belz and was until then in the unrealistic 8th place, demanded a promotion to 6th place at the expense of MK Yaakov Tessler, who represents Hasidic Vizhnitz, which Belz claims is smaller than it. On the other hand, Tessler - Litzman's protégé - received the support of Hasidic Gur. Three judges arbitrating the dispute ruled in a temporary decision more than a year ago that there would be a rotation for the 6th place on United Torah Judaism's list for the Knesset. According to the decision, MK Eichler from Belza will be placed in the 24th Knesset elections in the 6th place on the United Torah Judaism list, and MK Yaakov Tesler from Vizhnitz will be placed in the 8th place - but he was supposed to receive the first position that would remain for the United Torah Judaism party after the election of Litzman and Prosh, if the new ones enter the coalition. According to the decision, in the next term the situation was supposed to be reversed: Tesler will be placed before Eichler, but the Belza representative will be the one who will choose the first position that will be vacant. This decision was temporary, in preparation for arbitration that was supposed to take place on all the disputes between the two sides, on a variety of issues. However, now we are revealing here in Haredim 10 for the first time, that during the Passover holiday, a dramatic development took place within the faction. Against the backdrop of the local elections that will be held in a year and a half, dramatic understandings were reached between MK Meir Prosh and the candidate for mayor of Bnei Brak, Hanoch Seibert, from the Gur Hasidic party. Without holding a formal arbitration, the parties decided on a number of understandings as a "confidence-building step," with the goal of rebuilding trust between the party's parts. In a conversation with a source at Shlomi Emunim, he says: "Our demands were met, unequivocally." Among other things, Gur gave up on the Knesset list and complied with the demand that Israel Eichler from Belza be placed on the list ahead of the Vizhnitz representative Yaakov Tesler. A finance committee was also established, headed by the "Center" Meir Porush. Belza Hasidism will also have a representative on the committee, including the right to sign. In addition, in contrast to the situation in which decisions were often made based on the opinion of "one of the members," it was decided that from now on, the Agudat Yisrael faction will meet, and decisions will be made by majority vote in a democratic process. This is especially true when it comes to a parliamentary decision. When larger, more fundamental decisions come up, the Council of Torah Sages will, of course, convene, where the decision will be made. What pushed the 'central faction' of Gur Hasidism - which is already torn from within due to the split in the Alter community - to make concessions was the fear that Degel plus the Porosh-Eichler axis would undermine the long-standing agreement in Bnei Brak, for example, and appoint a mayor on their behalf, thereby thwarting the run of Hanoch Seibert, who, according to the agreement, is supposed to take the helm of power in the city in the next elections.