Despite some prominent disappointments — notably the
loss of the mayoralty of Jerusalem — UTJ leaders were
satisfied with their achievements throughout the country.
Even in Jerusalem, the party itself garnered 25 percent more
votes than in the previous election only 5 years ago.
United Torah Jewry lists posted sharp growth around the
country and in particular the number of Degel HaTorah
representatives increased in various cities and communities.
A spokesman for Degel HaTorah's Municipal Department said
that the achievement was largely due to the many dedicated
volunteers who made a concerted effort to carry out the
instructions given by gedolei Yisroel.
Beit Shemesh posted an especially impressive success when
Rabbi Moshe Abutbol, the chareidi candidate from Shas who was
also given prominent and sweeping support by Degel HaTorah,
was elected mayor. The UTJ list grew to five seats on the
local council.
In Ashdod the entire chareidi public united to oust current
Mayor Tzvi Tzilker after over three decades in office.
Yechiel Lasri was elected with the support of the large
chareidi community there. UTJ increased its presence on the
city council to three seats.
In Elad, Rabbi Yitzchok Eidan was elected mayor with 80
percent of the vote. The joint list won 12 of 15 council
seats; eight of those 12 belong to UTJ.
In Rechasim Rabbi Dan Cohen became council head after winning
the support of a combined Degel HaTorah-Shas list. Rabbi
Cohen is replacing Rabbi Yitzchok Reich based on an internal
agreement. The joint list won seven seats, including four for
Degel HaTorah.
In Haifa UTJ made a historic gain by doubling its strength,
which now matches the Labor and Likud lists. After years of
just one council seat rotated between Degel HaTorah and
Agudas Yisroel, two representatives were elected from the two
parties. UTJ is now the largest chareidi party in the city,
and its power exceeds even that of the NRP.
In certain places UTJ secured council seats for the first
time. In Modi'in, for instance, the first-ever seat is
considered vital due to the struggle over fundamental
religious issues in the city. Two representatives were
elected to the Maaleh Adumim council and one in Nahariya,
Kiryat Tivon, Kiryat Yam and Rosh Ha'ayin. In the town of
Kadima two representatives were elected for a list associated
with UTJ and one in Kiryat Ono. In Sderot UTJ won two
seats.
UTJ also posted encouraging results in places like Rishon
Letzion, Ramat Hasharon, Raanana, Tel Aviv, Kiryat Gat and
Tel Mond. In several places Degel Hatorah candidates fell
only a few votes short of winning.
*
On Tuesday Israeli citizens age 17 and over cast their
ballots at 7,508 polling places in 159 cities and
communities, electing local leaders in local and municipal
elections. Some five million people were eligible to vote. A
total of 660 candidates vied for posts as local authority
heads.
To win a mayoral post the candidate must garner at least 40
percent of the votes. If nobody receives 40 percent, a runoff
election is held two weeks later between the two leading
candidates. Seats on local councils are distributed according
to the following formula: number of valid votes divided by
the number of council members times 0.75. As a result, the
minimum cutoff level varies from one authority to the next.
For instance a local authority with a 15-member council has a
cutoff level of 5 percent.
Local elections are held once every five years on the third
Tuesday of Cheshvan, unless special circumstances call for a
postponement, which requires approval by the Interior
Minister.
