The Likud suffered a major defeat in Afula when independent candidate Avi Alkabetz, who was supported by Degel HaTorah, won the mayoral election as head of Afula Achat with 51 percent of the vote. The Likud candidate, Yossi Goshen, received 46 percent of the vote despite election rallies attended by the Prime Minister and Likud ministers. Another independent candidate, Eli Malul, won just 3 percent of the vote.
In the previous municipal elections almost two years ago Degel HaTorah vied on a joint list with Shas based on a rotation agreement. According to the agreement Degel HaTorah representative Rabbi Menachem Gold, assistant principal of the local Nesivos Moshe school, is scheduled to take his seat on the city council in the next few months. Meanwhile Agudas Yisroel, which vied separately and even put forward a mayoral candidate, did not pass the cutoff margin.
Several weeks ago former mayor Attorney Yitzchak Meron announced his resignation after six-and-a-half years in office. When special elections were announced a short time later, three candidates emerged: Alkabetz, who had served as municipality director and Meron's right-hand man and was backed by Labor, Yachad, Shas and Degel HaTorah, Goshen, who was backed by Likud and Agudas Yisroel, and another independent candidate.
The Likud Party, hoping to win back the mayor's office following defeats in the last two election campaigns, brought top-ranking Likud figures to Afula—which voted mostly Likud in the Knesset elections—to encourage local residents to vote for the party candidate. Agudas Yisroel figures were also recruited to support Goshen.
One day before the mayoral elections, Degel HaTorah Secretary Rabbi Moshe Gafni came to conduct a pre-election tour of the city. Joined by Degel HaTorah representative Menachem Gold, Nesivos Moshe principal Rav Dovid Malka, and the representative for the local kollelim, Rabbi Gafni met with Alkabetz.
During the meeting, held at the Degel HaTorah election headquarters, they discussed Alkabetz' plans regarding religious affairs, education and other issues and agreed to maintain cooperation after the elections. At the end of the meeting it was decided Degel HaTorah would do all in its power during the hours remaining until the polls opened to ensure Alkabetz was elected to office.
"Alkabetz was elected at the end of the election campaign by a majority of 51 percent," said Rabbi Gafni, therefore "it is perfectly clear if Degel HaTorah numbers 700 votes in Afula, Alkabetz' victory was only secured thanks to the mobilization of Degel HaTorah voters."
