MK Meir Porush Skips United Torah Judaism Delegation Meeting at President's Residence
MK Meir Porush skipped the United Torah Judaism delegation meeting at the President's Residence. Amidst a draft law crisis, party rabbis instructed members to withhold endorsements.
MK Meir Porush skipped the United Torah Judaism delegation's visit to the President's Residence in Jerusalem on Thursday as part of consultations for the next government. Porush had been the only member of the faction hesitating whether to endorse Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Porush's absence drew significant attention due to his divergence from the rest of the faction. While the ultra-Orthodox leadership instructed party representatives to withhold endorsements from any candidate, Porush had contemplated backing Netanyahu, potentially defying the consensus within the party.
Representatives of Degel HaTorah and Agudat Israel Chairman Yitzhak Goldknopf received explicit instructions from their rabbis not to recommend any candidate to form a government. This decision stemmed from an ongoing crisis surrounding the military draft law and strained relations between ultra-Orthodox parties and Netanyahu.
In recent days, Netanyahu attempted to secure United Torah Judaism's backing, holding discussions with Porush and designated MK Eliyahu Stark. Despite these efforts, the contacts failed to alter the rabbinical leadership's stance, resulting in a collective decision to abstain from recommending any candidate.
