Rav Dov Lando, rosh yeshiva of Slabodka and a leader of the Lithuanian chareidi community, has no interest in removing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to one of his closest associates.
In closed-door conversations in recent days, David Shapira, described as one of the most influential figures around Rav Lando, explained the rosh yeshiva’s position on the formation of the next government, Channel 12’s Amit Segal reported.
“Rav Lando is not a member of the ‘anyone but Bibi’ cult,” Shapira said. “He has no interest in moving Bibi. He has an interest in protecting the Torah world.”
The remarks come as Degel HaTorah, the Lithuanian faction of United Torah Judaism, holds political contacts with the change bloc led by Yashar chairman Gadi Eisenkot, which is reaching out to the chareidi parties over a possible compromise on the draft law. The change bloc has been waiting for a decision from the chareidi rabbinic leadership on whether such talks can move forward.
Likud has been pressing the chareidi parties not to join a government led by the change bloc. On Tuesday, Energy Minister Eli Cohen warned that the bloc would “throw the chareidim under the bus” once it replaced Netanyahu. UTJ has said it will not vote to replace Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana before a new government is formed.
Rav Lando and his fellow Slabodka rosh yeshiva, Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, are regarded as the two leading authorities of the Lithuanian chareidi community. Rav Hirsch flew to the United States on Wednesday for a fundraising tour, as UTJ’s coalition contacts continue.
