Like all political parties faction meetings are generally held in Knesset but today, Wednesday 15 Cheshvan 5773; the Knesset’s Shas faction will be meeting in the party’s Har Chotzvim Yerushalayim election campaign office during the afternoon hours. At the helm the new leadership trio Eli Yishai, Aryeh Deri and Ariel Atias.

This will be the first faction meeting since the achdus arrangement was announced, and the first Deri will be taking part in since he was compelled to step down from his political career over a decade ago.

Shas will face a formidable challenge in the election. While bringing Aryeh Deri on board is expected to add a number of seats, the party will be competing against Rabbi Chaim Amsellem’s party as well as possibly a Netzach party headed by a Sephardi litvish rav that may grab Shas votes as it remains unclear if Degel HaTorah is splitting or will run under a united list. There are also those who believe that the achdus leadership arrangement signals a lack of direction in the party, which may cost votes.

In essence, all the frum parties face the challenge of the new union between Likud and Yisrael Beitenu, and if they are joined in a coalition by Yair Lapid, Prime Minister Netanyahu will have about 60 seats. This reality places the chareidi parties in a most unwanted position in which their participation in the coalition is desired, but no longer critical. By all predictions, if such a coalition is established, there will be a new reality for the chareidi tzibur in Eretz Yisrael in a number of areas, including yeshiva funding and IDF service.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)