Power Struggle Erupts in Degel HaTorah: Will MKs Be Replaced Before Elections?

As Israel heads toward anticipated elections, a dramatic power struggle has erupted within Degel HaTorah, the Lithuanian haredi faction of United Torah Judaism. Sources within the party have revealed to JFeed that circles close to Rosh Yeshiva HaGaon Rabbi Dov Lando are actively exploring an unprecedented move to replace the party's current Knesset members with new representatives.

The initiative, which has been under consideration for over a year according to senior party officials, stems from frustration over what some view as the current leadership's failure to advance critical legislation, particularly regarding the military draft exemption for yeshiva students. Those close to Rabbi Lando's household believe that achieving genuine influence requires Knesset members who are exclusively loyal to their rabbinic leadership.

The Coalition Building Effort

Understanding that Rabbi Lando does not wield the absolute authority once held by previous gedolim such as Rabbi Aharon Leib Shteinman zt"l or Rabbi Elazar Menachem Man Shach zt"l, those advancing the initiative have reportedly sought to build a broader consensus. Most significantly, they have approached HaGaon Rabbi Moshe Hillel Hirsch, the longtime neighbor from Givat HaYeshiva who is widely regarded as a leading figure in the yeshiva world.

"If Rabbi Hirsch's camp joins this effort despite the historical tensions between the households, the move could actually proceed," explained a senior Degel HaTorah official speaking to JFeed. "After all, MK Moshe Gafni, the party chairman, could not refuse a request from two gedolei hador to step aside, and the same would apply to the other Knesset members."

The official noted that observers tracking the relationship between the two rabbinic households in recent months have detected attempts by Rabbi Lando's circle to cultivate warmer ties with Rabbi Hirsch's camp, including partial coordination on issues such as the draft legislation and participation in the European Rabbinical Conference.

The Draft Law Failure and Political Maneuvering

The push to replace Degel HaTorah's Knesset delegation comes amid widespread frustration over the failure to pass legislation exempting yeshiva students from military service. A second party insider told JFeed that the rivalry between the rabbinic households has directly undermined legislative efforts throughout the past year.

"In a conversation between Prime Minister Netanyahu and one of the members of the Moetzet Gedolei HaTorah, the Prime Minister noted that during the past year, there were several opportunities to advance the draft law, but the disputes between the gedolim's households prevented it," the source stated. "When Rabbi Hirsch supported a particular approach, people from Rabbi Lando's camp opposed it, and when Rabbi Hirsch's representatives tried to push for additional achievements in the legislation, Rabbi Lando's household instructed them to move forward without those additions."

The source emphasized that the recent instruction to dissolve the government does not actually solve the draft law issue, suggesting instead that it represents part of a broader political maneuver. "Those who met multiple times with Naftali Bennett understand that together with Gafni and the current representation, they cannot realize their plan to establish a left-wing government," the official asserted. "Therefore, these frustrated elements are attempting to install their own loyalists."

Fierce Internal Opposition

Despite the behind-the-scenes maneuvering and claims of rabbinic letters or video recordings supporting the replacement initiative, JFeed has learned that significant opposition exists within Degel HaTorah to prevent what many view as a potentially catastrophic move for the party.

A prominent Degel HaTorah representative clarified that the current Knesset members bear limited responsibility for the draft law failure. "The first thing that must be understood is that Degel HaTorah's representatives have little blame for not passing the draft law, because on the instruction of the gedolim's households, they operated under the umbrella of Shas, which is devoted to Netanyahu and will do anything to remain with him, alongside the constant disputes between the rabbinic households that truly destroyed every attempt at negotiation with the Prime Minister's representatives, who have already lost trust in the haredi representation," he stated.

The representative emphasized that the replacement effort is fundamentally about long-term control rather than addressing genuine failures. "The problem is that the desire to carry out this removal, which is being done to take control of Degel HaTorah for decades to come and is an attempt to cover up the failure of the rabbinic courts, is not acceptable to the vast majority of Moetzet members," he noted. "Even Rabbi Moshe Hillel, who ostensibly is not currently backing the Knesset members, does not actually want this removal."

The Broader Context

The internal turmoil within Degel HaTorah unfolds against a backdrop of mounting pressure on the haredi community regarding military service. As reported by JFeed, Police Commissioner Danny Levy recently reversed longstanding policy by instructing officers to immediately detain any military deserter they encounter, marking a significant escalation in enforcement against yeshiva students.

Additionally, the Israel Land Authority Council recently passed a resolution barring yeshiva students who have not regulated their IDF status from participating in government housing lotteries, effectively shutting thousands of young haredi men out of subsidized housing opportunities.

Party insiders emphasize that any move to replace sitting Knesset members without genuine consensus could trigger a rupture that would weaken haredi political representation precisely when it faces its greatest challenges in decades.