With about a week remaining before the Chief Rabbinate elections, negotiations between Aryeh Deri of Shas and Bezalel Smotrich of Religious Zionism to appoint a chareidi Sefardic Chief Rabbi and a Religious Zionist Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi have reached an impasse.
Five Ashkenazi candidates are currently in the race: Rav Micha Halevy, Rav Meir Kahana, Rav Eliezer Igra, Rav Kalman Ber, and Rav Moshe Chaim Lau, the son and brother of former Chief Rabbis Rav Yisroel Meir Lau and Rav Dovid Lau.
{Matzav.com Israel}