The ultimatum shaking the Haredi community: by Friday - or a new path

Moti Leitner, chairman of the "Haredi Public" faction, issued an ultimatum to Aryeh Deri, Moshe Gafni, and Yitzhak Goldknopf: if the representation demand is not met by Friday, community representatives and rabbis will convene to consult on the way forward. In a letter sent today, Leitner claims his repeated appeals were met with disdain and slander, and warns that tens of thousands of Haredim are considering not voting or choosing non-Haredi parties.

Moti Leitner, chairman of the "Haredi Public" faction, sent an ultimatum letter today to Aryeh Deri, Moshe Gafni, and Yitzhak Goldknopf, the leaders of the Haredi parties. In the letter, published in full, Leitner states that if the representation demand is not met by this coming Friday, community representatives and rabbis will convene for consultation with the Torah sages on the way forward. Leitner claims that his repeated appeals over months were met with disdain and slander, and that tens of thousands of Haredim feel their needs are not being addressed and they lack proper representation. He warns that many are considering not voting or choosing non-Haredi parties. The letter emphasizes that the demand is "public and value-based," and includes demands for protection of yeshiva students, a service solution for Haredim who do not study, and providing tools for employment and economic future. According to reports, the move was preceded by contacts with senior Shas and United Torah Judaism officials to integrate new representatives into the lists, and when no progress was made, the independent faction was established.