Lithuanian-haredi Degel Hatorah and hasidic-haredi Agudat Yisrael, which traditionally run together as the Ashkenazi-hareid "United Torah Judaism" (UTJ) party, are holding negotiations ahead of the upcoming elections regarding the continuation of the joint list.
According to Kikar Hashabbat, the two parties will hold their first negotiating meeting on Wednesday evening, and the negotiating teams will include representatives of Degel HaTorah, Gur, Shlomei Emunim, and Belz.
Kikar Hashabbat noted that as part of the negotiations, Degel HaTorah is expected to demand five of the first eight spots on the joint slate, as well as that MK Uri Maklev be given priority for the first position over MK Meir Porush.
The demands are expected to form part of discussions over the distribution of positions and roles between the two parties, with the sides needing to reach agreements regarding the composition of the slate and the division of power between them.
Meanwhile, new haredi parties are emerging. One party is currently operating under the name, "Hatzibur Haharedi," (literally, "the haredi community") while another is currently operating under the name "Black Ink."
Black Ink and would place opposition to the drafting of yeshiva students into the Israel Defense Forces at the center of its platform.
The party would also seek to restore the model which allows yeshiva students to defer military service in order to pursue full-time Torah study, without imposing sanctions on those who do not enlist.