Some 150 to 200 representatives of Degel Hatorah from around Israel arrived in Haifa on Monday evening in a showing of solidarity for Haifa Mayor Yona Yahav’s continued refusal to appoint Degel Councilman Miki Alper a deputy mayor. Degel officials explain Mayor Yahav is violating his coalition agreement with them.

Speaking with Kol Chai Radio host Mordechai Lavi on Tuesday morning, 15 Sivan, Jerusalem Deputy Mayor (Degel Hatorah) Yitzchak Pindrus explained the point of their visit was simply to show Yahav that when he challenges one chareidi councilman in his city the battle is not a personal one limited to the two of them but it involves the chareidim nationwide.

Yonah Yahav refuses to honor coalition agreement and appointment Alper, which has led to widespread condemnation from chareidi elected officials in Knesset.

Alper, a resident of the N’vei Sha’anan area of Haifa, should have been appointed as a deputy mayor as part of a rotation agreement but the mayor prefers to set the agreement aside for the time being, eliciting the ire of the chareidim.

Haifa City Hall is not responding to the event and continues business as usual and the ball remains in the court of the chareidim on the Haifa City Council.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)