After the elections: Elad not yet quiet

Several weeks have passed since Election Day, in different cities coalitions are being established, but the city of Elad, as well as the city of Beit Shemesh, are still stuck.

But while in Beit Shemesh the war is raging between the secular and Haredim, Elad is a different story - Shas against Shlomei Emunim and Degel Hatorah.

What is surprising is that last week Shas chairman Zuriel Crispell spoke here in Behadrey Haredim and expressed the hope that things are about to close for the better. The council meeting which convened even progressed festively, and the two – Porush-Crispell were observed as they travel together in one vehicle to the event.

Yesterday, Yehuda Avidan, a negotiator on behalf of Shas, sent a strong letter to the elected mayor - Yisrael Porush, in which he laid out his claims.

Yehuda Avidan's letter to Moshe Porush
Following is Avidan's letter, a letter sent by him to the member of the negotiating team, Moshe Porush:

"My honorable, I was sorry to receive your reply regarding the negotiations on the composition of the future coalition in Elad led by your brother Rabbi Yisrael Porush, and which every reader understands that its contents are basically only for propaganda in the media, to explain that we are those who act irresponsibly, while you are the only ones who are responsible and mature.

I am glad you made sure to submit your answer in written (I understand that apparently you did not have the courage to talk to me by phone and tell me your answer, I do not know such conduct between teams which negotiate who do so, and I am sure that if you consult and ask your father, he would tell you that you should give me a call, and you should try at least for the sake of politeness, to ask to meet, and maybe offer a suitable alternative, but there it is, when by you elections are not over and PR people are still working, I allow myself to remind you, that elections are over and this is not the way to act).

This being so , I will answer you in writing too, and with your permission, just give a brief review of your proceedings since the start.

It began by the fact that you bothered yourselves to invite us just two weeks after the elections, and only after I was the one who initiated the call, even then it took you four days to meet (no doubt you will argue that you were waiting for X and Y, excuses) but never mind, we finally meet, you came very organized and hampers, so all you had to tell us was that the role of deputy is taken, so too the planning committee chairman and portfolio of construction and engineering , another deputy was also assured to the Haredi public's darling from the Jewish Home Mr. Shai Natan, who was promised the title of Vice (probably in recognition of their contribution to the Torah World they are preferred over Shas) and the portfolio of Education and mechanism is occupied by the Vizhnitz delegate (here I have to be honest that regarding Education and the mechanism you agreed to say that it is not critical and there is something to talk about and of the title of Shai Nathan you also agreed to speak) .

This announcement of yours was greeted with amazement here, especially that after all the residues of the elections, after a campaign the like of which is not remembered in the Haredi sector, while crossing every red line against Rabbi Crispell, nevertheless, and despite this, we put everything back, and we told you we respect the will of the voters who gave a mandate to Rabbi Porush as mayor, but we expect you to equally respect the will of the voter who gave us a majority in the city council, which is basically a management tool as much as the right given to the mayor (what can one do, this is democracy and these are the rules).

We naively thought, honestly, that the good of the city stands in front of you, (Rabbi Crispell really talked about it in all the media out of a true belief regarding your intentions), so we decided not to argue and fight and we asked you at the end of the first session to come back to us with a more respectable proposal, which is why we did not agree to make an offer any alternative whatsoever, when it was clear to everyone that there must be an offer that will reflect our majority on the one hand, and the fact that in previous terms the mayor on behalf of Shas, the deputies and senior positions were held by United Torah Judaism.

Of course, for to the meeting we waited again over several days, while all the time we made sure to be very quiet and maintain the dignity of the mayor, and his rest in Belgium, all in order not to harm the good will that was really on our side, and not to provide anyone an excuse to blow up the negotiations, something which did not happen on your part when on the first two days after elections, you made sure to send the darling of the Haredi public from the Jewish Home to "make order" in the municipality, and clean the offices of Sephardim, while sending threats against women workers whose only crime is that they are Sephardi, and while disconnecting PCs to employees, behavior which is undoubtedly brutal beyond all rules of proper administration.

When Mr. Nathan did not deliver the goods in full and immediately, you made sure to send Mr. Yehuda Wetzler who did not averse in any way possible, as long as he delivers the goods, and only after we warned in public about that, you apologized and promised to calm down, what actually did not happen and the agreement was not executed, unfortunately.

To our dismay, even in the additional session we had, you did not arrive with any news, besides some ideas in mind, which we knew in advance had no chance, and we agreed to that, despite the fact that in previous terms, when you had two paid deputies, you did not show any willingness to come towards us, but never mind, what does one not to do for the good of the city.

At the same time I asked you, let's go on to discuss what happens if the answer is no, you insisted not to discuss it now, and said that it is a forum which is too broad. We acceded this request too, and we set a small team which will meet and try to move forward, but unfortunately until today it has not gathered, nor it's not worthy for me to give the details, just unnecessary.

So, once you asked for 48 hours, and the second time you asked until the end of Hanukkah and you got it, but in the meantime we thought we would sit and talk, however, so it is when the mayor returns from abroad and immediately goes back overseas. And after all that you dare to write to me, that it's enough with the chaos that was for the last fifteen years? So just a reminder, most departing council members, were from your party, the deputies were also from your party, the senior roles and portfolios were also in the hands of your party, and all this despite the aforesaid, you acted with complete irresponsibly regarding the management of the city, and towards the mayor, when actually you did not think it necessary to look at all the needs in the city. But not any more.

We, Rabbi Porush, will not behave like you G-d forbid, and with the anarchy you used, we mean and are ready to serve the residents of the entire city, even if it's from the Opposition benches, with utmost responsibility.

We have an excellent selection of wonderful people, who are highly motivated and headed by the person with the greatest and most experience in the city, in the person of Rav Zuriel Crispell, and together with Rabbi Barak Zabari and the rest of the party we will show the world that you can be responsible and not exploit the majority to the adverse G-d forbid. On the contrary, for the only better.

Finally, I would like to clarify that with receipt of your letter to me, we see it as a message on your part for your lack of wish to see us as worthy partners to manage the city, but a continuation of the campaign, throwing sand in the eyes of the public , in fact a lot of money and resources you have spilled to date, and your wish to continue to humiliate and harm the Sephardic public which has the majority of the city of Elad, and that's a shame.

The one whom the blessing of Maran ztk"l zi"a accompanies, is never afraid. Therefore, we consider ourselves free from any commitment and of our continued way we will inform you soon."


The comment: Yisrael Porush writes to Yehuda Avidan
The letter of answer was not long in coming, and it was sent directly by the mayor -elect Yisrael Porush to Yehuda Avidan.

"I got a phone call from you two days ago, the first time you talked to me about the negotiations, you told me that you do not get clear answers from the negotiating team for the set up of a coalition. I tried to explain that we make all efforts to reach an agreement acceptable to all parties, and operate with professionals in this regard.

In the few minutes you talked to me, I was amazed to hear that you are threatening and can say without reservation that you are going to pass for me, and especially the residents of the city, a term with an improved version of what passed over my predecessors Rabbi Yitzchak Idan and Rabbi Zvi Cohen.

During the last period I heard similar threats from you and others, and I naively assumed that it was rumors and slander, and that we go together to run the city and solve all its problems.

Then I tried to reach you by phone several times, but without success.

I told you in our conversation, and anyone who was willing to listen, that I proposed to establish important committees, immediately and regardless of the coalition, in order to promote the needs of the city and prepare the opening year for the city children properly.

When I met last week with Rabbi Zuriel Crispell and Rabbi Barak Zabari, I offered to convene a tender committee, and suggested that it will be headed by Rabbi Crispell in order to ensure that from our perspective you are full partners in managing the city, in order to speed up the auctions for educational institutions that will be ready at the beginning of the year.

Unfortunately, your answer was that they would prefer to wait a full settlement, which would mainly include the division of paid roles, which is the only requirement we did not accede to, due to the restrictions imposed by the Ministry of Interior in front of our coalition obligations to other partners.

I must tell you, Rabbi Yehuda, I'm shocked at that sort of behavior. I did not know that for a paying job, one or another, one could abandon a city and its residents and prevent the advancement of important processes.

I keep calling you, the city is not ours, it belongs to over forty thousand inhabitants who want a change and unity. Please, join us, transcend all the residues of the past and we will lead the city forward.

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!