Head of the Shas Faction and Interior Minister Aryeh Deri has given up trying to intervene in the infighting taking place between Sephardic factions in Bnei Brak regarding the upcoming municipal elections. Deri, together with other MKs from his faction, held a number of meetings with various people in the local chapters of Bnei Brak in attempt to solve some of the issues surrounding the upcoming municipal elections. Due to his failed attempts to calm the various parties involved, he has said that he will no longer intervene in the matter.

One source who was present during the discussions told Kikar Shabbat news service that: “It is simply incredible. With the amount of infighting in the city between factions and its intensity, one would expect that they were fighting over the U.S. Presidential election. I feel so bad for Aryeh who has to deal with this kindergarten.”

The toughest fight in any municipal election for Deri seems to be Bnei Brak. As Rabbi Meir Mazuz who leads the city’s Yachad party has a strong following, and Rabbi Daniel Zar has announced that he will begin a party to run against Shas in the city. The Ben Shimon family of rabbis, an influential one in the city, also said that they would not support Shas.

‘I don’t intend to spend to much effort on the situation in Bnei Brak. Rabbi Shimon Badani is in charge of this project and I do not plan on getting involved at all,” said Deri.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)