According to the polls, Aryeh Deri enjoys widespread popularity, far more than current Shas leader Eli Yishai.
YWN-ISRAEL reported earlier today, Monday, 8 Iyar 5772 that Maran HaGaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef Shlita offered Deri the third position on the party roster, an offer than Deri turned down. Political analysts report with a modicum of certainty that Deri will get the top slot, Yishai’s, or start his own party, but he is not about to settle for the third place in the party lineup.
Realizing the polls are working against him and Shas, Yishai today released statements to the media embracing Deri, stating “his place is here in Shas”, well-aware that Deri is only returning to replace him as party leader.
In the meantime, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, who is sitting shiva for his father, is seeking to announce early elections shortly following shiva.
For Mr. Netanyahu, the sooner the better since his popularity places him as the sure winner in a general election. In addition, the other parties, including Shas, do not want elections before the Tishrei yomim tovim, aware they do not have sufficient time to properly prepare, but the prime minister is actually trying, and may succeed, in doing just that, having the general election for prime minister and a new Knesset during Elul. The prime minister has consulted with his closest advisors, and they explain that even though Elul is “Chodesh HaSelichot”, this does not mean elections cannot be held as well.
Kol Chai Radio correspondent Shai Doron reports that “persons close to Deri confirm” that he rejected the offer for third place on the lineup and while he wants to return to Shas, nothing other than the party’s first slot is viewed as acceptable.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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One Response
There is a real philosophical difference between them. Yishai favors Shas being a “religious” party using its clout to gain favors and patronage for its supporters. Deri favors taking over the country, meaning the party would be less concerned with “religious” issues and focusing on forming coalitions to enable it to govern and rule. Yishai wants a place at the table, Deri wants the table. In the short run Yishai is probably right, in the long run, Deri is.
R. Yosef should encourage them to run as separate parties, and let the voters decide which approach to follow.