Betar Illit Mayor Meir Rubinstein has sent a letter to the chairman of Degel Hatorah in the city, Dudi Zlatz, informing him the deputy mayor slot awaits him as he has no intention of backing out of the agreement that was signed.

About a week ago, Rubinstein appointed Shas Councilman Yehudi Obaidi as a paid deputy mayor while Zlatz, who was supposed to receive the slot, did not get it. As reported, because Degel Hatorah betrayed Agudas Yisrael in Beit Shemesh according to Agudah, Rubinstein was going to back out of the agreement and not give Zlatz, who chairs Degel in Betar Illit, the position of deputy mayor. Zlatz however threatened to take the matter to a beis din, as an agreement was signed prior to the election.

Rubinstein explained in his letter, that in his over 25 years as a public servant, no one can say that he backed out of an agreement, written or verbal, and this holds true here too, and the deputy mayoral slot that was promised him awaits him.

Shlomei Emunim’s statement: “The appointment of the deputy of Degel Hatorah in Betar is delayed for the time being, as there is a limit to the harm to the representatives of the ministers of Torah and Chassidus and humiliation that the chassidish community has undergone in recent days, despite the fact that we have been partners for years. We are considering taking additional steps against Degel Hatorah. We hope and wish that the matter will be resolved soon and that achdus in Betar will continue and will have a positive effect on the rest of the country.”

In response, Dudi Zlatz sent a letter of complaint against Rubinstein to the Badatz in Betar demanding that Rubinstein implement the agreement as agreed before the elections, namely to appoint him to a deputy mayoral slot.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)