Israel’s ultra-Orthodox parties to remain united ahead of election

Israel’s two ultra-Orthodox parties, Agudat Yisrael and Degel Hatorah, decided Wednesday “to maintain their partnership and run together on a joint slate as United Torah Judaism”.

According to Haaretz, “the two ultra-Orthodox parties agreed to share power equally within the joint faction and agreed on the conditions of their alliance for the next two Knesset terms”.

In the next Knesset, “Agudat Yisrael will take the first, third and fifth positions, and so on”, while “Degel Hatorah will take all the even numbered slots”.

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“The joint party will continue under the leadership of Yaakov Litzman, the deputy health minister”.

Degel Hatorah leader Moshe Gafni said that United Torah Judaism can now start its election campaign.

“We are the first faction to end its internal debate. We can now, with the help of God, embark on the election with an equitable agreement,” he said, Haaretz reported. Litzman said “United Torah Judaism will win many more seats in Knesset this time around, with the help of heaven”.