There is a growing air of concern in the Shas party as Yisrael Hayom reports preparations are underway for the day that party leader Minister Aryeh Deri will have to take leave of politics once again, and once again due to a police investigation against him.

It is reported on Sunday, 7 Av that internal polls show that if former leader Eli Yishai returns, there will be an improvement in the party’s standing, but only five seats nonetheless.

Yisrael Hayom political correspondent Moti Tuchfeld reports a recent internal poll is making the rounds among party leaders, conducted by a respected pollster. This is one of the more thorough studies commissioned for an analysis of Shas’ situation, and it was sufficient to cause shock to the party’s top echelon, which clearly indicates that the situation of former chairman Eli Yishai is far better than the current chairman’s.

According to the Tuchfeld, Deri is now receiving five Knesset seats, while Shas leader Yishai is likely to receive six and while this is not a dramatic gap, it is enough to cause cold sweat from Shas leaders.

Eli Yishai also has his own survey, commissioned by his associates. His survey, conducted by “Magar Mochot ” shows a much more significant result. Deri, according to the same survey, is borderline begin locked out of Knesset, having difficulty earning the minimum four seats while Yishai brings Shas seven seats if he heads the party.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)