Crisis in the WhatsApp group 'The Influencers': Eight of the group's senior members - journalists Yossi Elitov, Moti Lavie, Eliezer Shulman, Ariel Deri, Yaakov Eichler, Moshe Glasner, Ariel Deri and Avi Mimran - resigned from the group this evening (Saturday night).
This was after a leak from a group that was formed about two years ago with the idea that it would succeed in setting an agenda in Haredi politics - a leak that embarrassed those quoted.
The leak reads:
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""Mimran in the Mishfim: After Shabbat at the Shas stronghold in Be'er Sheva: I have a feeling that Eli Yishai will pass the electoral threshold.
""Alitov in the Masfiim: Too many people I met on Shabbat told me they intended to vote for Yishai, Rabbi Yoram's disciples in Betar. Hasidim who are afraid of a left-wing government. Yemenis who identify with Amnon.
""Shulman in the influential: Over the weekend I heard from various groups, not just Chabad, support for Yishai. Rabbi Tao's letter so far hasn't harmed him. If Yishai stops making mistakes and focuses his messy campaign, he has a chance.".
One of the rules set in the group, and its members even signed a contract with a lawyer, is that "no information from within the group is allowed." This rule has been violated many times in the past, but it seems that tonight it crossed every line.
To this must be added the fact that since its establishment, the group has become an arena for internal strife, with conduct that has drawn much criticism from the group's manager, Benny Rabinowitz. Tonight, as mentioned, several members of the group decided to take action, quit and opened a competing group under the name 'For Journalists Only'.
The members of the new group hope that the debates in it will be substantive, without slander and without emotions.
One of the members of the new group told Haredim10: "We're tired of the leaks and also of the group manager's fans.".
• Rabinowitz, what's happening in 'The Influencers'?
""No response.".
