Following the submission of the candidate lists for next
month's local elections United Torah Jewry appears to have
achieved unity and inner cohesiveness that promise great
success on Election Day. The candidates chosen to represent
the party in every location are also well-liked and accepted
by the general public. In some towns UTJ is marching alone
while in others it is running on a joint ticket in
partnership with other parties and local lists.
UTJ is running independently in Ofakim, Azur, Yavneh,
Chatzor, Natzeret Illit, Petach Tikva, Rosh HaAyin, Carmiel
and Yerucham. In Carmiel this is to be the first election in
which UTJ is vying on its own; in Yerucham the UTJ candidate
is also vying for the mayor's office.
In Ashkelon, Zichron Yaakov, Netivot, Tzfat and Rechovot UTJ
has united with Shas on a joint list.
In Herzliya, Hadera and Ramat Gan UTJ has united with the
Mafdal and in Arad the party has formed a three-party list
together with Shas and the Mafdal. In Be'er Sheva UTJ is
running on a united religious ticket.
In Dimona, Kiryat Gat and Raanana UTJ has joined local
lists.
In Tel Aviv UTJ will run on neighborhoods list with Eli
Aminov and Shaarei Tzion Institutions.
In Rechasim an agreement was reached to set up a joint list
known as Shin-Yud. Heading the list is Rabbi Yitzchok Reich,
the candidate for council chairman. The list was applauded by
rabbonim of local kehilos and received a
political seal of approval with the signatures of MKs Rabbi
Moshe Gafni and Eli Yishai.
In Beit Shemesh a united UTJ-Degel HaTorah-Agudas Yisroel
list, which will be marked "Gimmel" on ballot slips, has been
submitted. The list was assembled at the last moment
following prolonged, exhausting negotiations between Degel
HaTorah and Agudas Yisroel representatives, talks that
concluded only when the lists were submitted last Thursday
night.
