For the first time: Degel HaTorah considers demanding ministerial positions

The various factions of the United Torah Judaism party, the Hasidic Agudat Yisrael and the Lithuanian Degel HaTorah, are currently in intensive negotiations to form a joint list for the Knesset. According to the rotation agreements between the parties, it is now the turn of the chairman of Degel HaTorah, Moshe Gafni, to lead the list. However, the Lithuanian party is not satisfied with this alone and is considering demanding a ministerial position.

Until now, Degel HaTorah has refused to join the government for principled reasons, citing, among other things, the partnership in ministries and the responsibility for the desecration of the Sabbath, as well as a desire to avoid deep involvement in state administration. Despite this, Degel HaTorah is now considering asking the rabbis for permission to appoint ministers. This follows the precedent set by Agudat Yisrael, which avoided such roles for many years until Yaakov Litzman became the first Ashkenazi Haredi minister after a ruling that it was impossible to serve as a deputy minister with the status of a minister.

This time, the Lithuanians are setting their sights higher and are expected to demand not only the top spot on the list but also the most senior position, a concession they previously made in favor of the Hasidim. It should be recalled that over the past year, members of Degel HaTorah have not served in any government capacity, neither as ministers nor as deputy ministers, due to their opposition to being part of a coalition that does not regulate the issue of conscription exemptions.