Former Shas leader and senior government minister Rav Aryeh Deri appears to be making his comeback to politics. Deri may be back in Shas or alternatively as an independent.

Deri told Yediot Achronot that he is weighing running for a Knesset slot, but at present he is uncertain regarding if he will do so under the Shas banner or independently.

Many political analysts feel that Deri’s return to Shas would boost the party back to its days of glory, such as in 1999 when the party earned 17 seats. Others feel Deri would do better on his own, adding it is uncertain if Deri would run against Maran Rav Ovadia’s party. Others speculate that Deri is not setting his sights on the Knesset, but the Jerusalem mayoral race.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)