The Letter Released
Eretz Hakodesh not mentioned by name
Yeshiva World has released the Kol Koreh from the Moetzes. It is unsigned (which is common) but more interestingly, leaves out Eretz Hakodesh by name. It also includes this line:
We do not intend to impugn the honor of those distinguished rabbis who ruled that it is permitted.
This is rare, because Kol Korehs like this usually imply only one side is correct. It is a very pareve letter, and the fact it was even released was heavily influenced by two things: 1) R Dov Landau’s strong opposition (in contrast to R Chaim zt’ls approval) and 2) The lack of any tangible results Eretz Hakadosh accomplished, outside the 8 million dollars or so they gave to yeshivos. Reform was not really fought.
More interesting is why the Aguda felt the need to release this letter, and the fact it took a delay. This is the same pattern that followed with Zionist issues in the past, such as the past time around with Eretz Hakodesh and Agudah ban on the Israel protest. While I do not have solid confirmation, the rumor is that there is a prominent Moetzes member who has threatened to secede in the past if the Agudah doesn’t take a harder line on Zionism and the Agudah feels it needs Lakewood-style chareidi support for it to remain relevant (while in the opinion of this author it is actually accomplishing the opposite).
More interesting WZO news: World Mizrachi signed an agreement with Reform, according to R’ Pini Dunner. This has resulted in many MO and Yu refusing to vote for them.
So both the MO and Chareidim have their WZO politics!
This is a neutral comment that isn't in relation to WZO elections themselves. Agudah should not worry about the Lakewood Roshey Yeshiva leaving the moetzes. The Lakewood crowd is never going to become Agudists anyway . The potential constituency Aguda does have is going to be driven away if the more right wing members of the moetzes are the prevailing voices on it. Aguda would probably accomplish more if people like Rav Yisroel Reisman or Rav Yissocher Frand were both on the Moetzes and important members of it. For the crowd Agudah looks to for membership, they are a much better fit as a manhig and moreh derech than some of the current members.
Do the rabbis on either side think that followers of the rabbis on the other side show follow their own Rabbis?