Full Breakdown
Degel HaTorah Overhauls Leadership Ahead of the October 27 Election
9/6/2026, 10:18:48 PM
Core Shift: Veteran MKs Moshe Gafni and Uri Maklev Removed from the Slate
The office of Rabbi Dov Lando, the leading rabbinic authority of the Lithuanian Haredi community represented politically by Degel HaTorah, confirmed on October 27 that the 96-year-old rabbi wrote letters to longtime lawmakers Moshe Gafni and Uri Maklev informing them they will not appear on United Torah Judaism’s (UTJ) candidate list for the upcoming election. MK Yaakov Asher is expected to replace Gafni as Degel HaTorah chairman and to head the joint UTJ slate.
Background & Context
Degel HaTorah, one of two factions in UTJ, traditionally negotiates coalition agreements for the Haredi community. Rabbi Lando has previously authorized moves to dissolve the Knesset over the Haredi conscription bill. The recent Basic Law: Torah Study—passed earlier this year with a 63-52 vote—was followed by a failed attempt to secure a broad exemption for yeshiva students, which insiders cite as the catalyst for the leadership reshuffle.
Timeline
- 1988 – Moshe Gafni first elected to the Knesset.
- 2008 – Uri Maklev first elected to the Knesset.
- Earlier this year – Basic Law: Torah Study approved (63-52).
- September 8 – Deadline for parties to submit final candidate lists for the October 27 election.
- October 27 – Election day; Lando’s letters become public.
Data & Statistics
- Gafni’s tenure: 38 years.
- Maklev’s tenure: over a decade.
- Basic Law vote: 63 for, 52 against.
- Rabbi Dov Lando’s age: 96.
Official Statements & Responses
Rabbi Lando’s office said the letters “warmly thanked” Gafni and Maklev for their “total obedience with religious leaders.” Party officials noted that David Shapira—grandson of Rabbi Aharon Leib Shteinman—has been urging a harder line against the government and supporting Asher’s elevation. Sources say Asher, a former mayor of Bnei Brak, is viewed as loyal to Lando’s household.
Why It Matters
The removal of Gafni, a former chair of the Knesset Finance Committee, signals a shift toward candidates aligned with Lando’s religious leadership. Analysts note Degel HaTorah’s demand for a full ministerial portfolio could reshape the balance of power within UTJ and affect future coalition composition.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on potential replacements. Some list Bnei Brak Deputy Mayor Menachem Shapira, Modi’in Illit Mayor Yaakov Gutterman, Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Lazer Rauchberger, and faction head Miki Alper. Others mention Yehuda Weissfish, chairman of Ihud Bnei Hayeshivot. No definitive list was published by the September 8 deadline.
What’s Next
Degel HaTorah must finalize its slate by September 8, after which the October 27 election will determine whether the faction secures a ministerial post and how its refreshed leadership will influence coalition negotiations. The outcome will be closely watched by both secular and religious parties as the Haredi bloc reassesses its role in Israeli politics.
