While former Shas leader Aryeh Deri’s political comeback enjoys widespread media coverage, senior Agudas Yisrael official R’ Meir Porush on Monday, 29 Tishrei 5773 launched his anti-Deri campaign. According to Porush “Deri undermines and destroys”, well aware that Deri did not assist him in his bid for the Jerusalem mayoral slot, a race that he lost to Nir Barkat.
Speaking to Kol Berama Radio’s Mordechai Lavi, Porush explained he is familiar with Deri’s efforts to make a return to the political arena. “When I ran for mayor of Yerushalayim Deri announced his comeback too, and he never returned. Why speak in the interim and simply undermine and destroy?”
When asked how the chareidim are preparing for the upcoming election, set for 11 Shevat 5773, Porush surprised Lavi by calling for primaries as is customary in the secular parties. “If I know all parties concerned are in agreement I am for such a move” he added.
“It is good and it is important towards refreshing the players, and also to eliminate complaints after the fact why one person or another is not in the Knesset.”
Porush explained there are some who believe primaries are not appropriate for a party like Agudas Yisrael, but he explains that if one checks the party charter one will learn this is not so. Towards making certain one who is not suited is not elected, he added that the Moetzas Gedolei Yisrael of the party must approve each person after the primaries.
Porush feels that as long as the gedolim approve each candidate, there is no reason not to hold primaries to permit voters to select their candidate. He feels such a move would be beneficial for all concerned.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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5 Responses
What sense is there in having the Moetzes vet candidates after the primaries? This vetting must take place before the primaries, so that no effort and expense is wasted choosing candidates who will then be deemed unsuitable. The primary voter should be confident that when he is presented with a list of candidates to choose between, they are all erliche yidden who have been approved by the Moetzes, and if they are chosen they will represent the Agudah in the elections.
Pourash is a leader of a rival party. It isn’t news when one says something negative about a rival party. Remember that with proportional represenation, parties compete against those most similar in ideology rather against their ideological opposites.
I like the concept of primaries. It would eliminate in-fighting which is common-place in all political parties in Israel and the Chareidim are not excluded. As far as the Moetzas Gedolei Yisrael approving or not approving a candidate, I think it would be more prudent and fair if that approval process happens BEFORE rather than after the primaries.
Small parties don’t need primaries in the Israeli system. It isn’t clear if big ones should have primaries either. If a party doesn’t pick candidates or policies that make their voters happy, the voters will switch. Anyone can set up a party in Israel, and if they can get 2% of the vote, they’re in. In the US, a new party needs over a third of the vote to have a chance of winning.
Meir Porush is on the outs with everyone. He was not supported by his own people in Agudah (especially Ger) in his bid for mayor. He stands much to lose in any primary and in any election.
Deri is much adored in Israel, not just by S’fardim, but by many Askenazim. He has much to gain by elections.
I live in Jerusalem and am an Askenazi. If I had the choice (which I won’t have) of voting for Porush or Deri, I would chose Deri. Why? I spoke several times to Porush and hated it each time. Porush is in because of his father’s political connections, not because he helps people; Deri is in because he helps plain people like you and me.
Deri is a people’s candidate; Porush is in it for himself.