Shas party chairman Minister Aryeh Deri is threatening with a lawsuit if Jerusalem Councilman (Agudas Yisrael) Michal Halberstam does not apologize for statements said about him, that he allegedly harmed Gedolei Yisrael and achdus in the chareidi camp with his actions, referring to the period before municipal elections.

Deri explains he is giving a warning and an opportunity to correct the situation before he takes the next step, involving legal action via Rabbinical lawyer Moshe Mittelman, who in his letter gives Halberstam 72 hours to issue his apology.

In discussions prior to elections, he spoke of how he is working to unite the chareidi camp, and this was totally contrary to what appears in the news. He refers to a recording aired by Chevra Chadashot News in which the chairman of the Jerusalem faction of Agudas Yisrael, Yossi Deutsch, is heard speaking about a conversation that took place between Deri and Halberstam which went something like “Did you hear how Deri is speaking? We are the baalei batim in Yerushalayim. If the Admorim need kovod, then we give them kovod. Agudah lost and we and Degel are the winners”.

Deri is also demanding a clarification from Deutsch for releasing the conversation and harming his good name, as a person who has the utmost respect for Gedolei Yisrael.

Persons close to Deri explain, “The request was made by means of a rabbinical attorney in line with halacha as is fitting for chareidi public officials, with the sole purpose of ensuring the respect of Gedolei Torah and chassidim and correcting the distorted impression that there are chareidi public figures who do not Chas V’sholom respect Gedolim.”

Mittelman explains that if the apologies are not issued within 72, they will use all means permitted by halacha to move forward. It is added that Mittelman’s letter was sent to the secretary of the Moetzas Gedolei Torah of Agudas Yisrael, Rav Yaakov Waltzer, with a request that he give a copy to each member.

In Agudas Yisrael, it does not appear that Deri’s letter has resulted in too much concern as on Thursday, 14 Kislev, the response to Deri’s demands was a statement reading, “We regret that Mr. Deri continues his attempts to polarize and spread hatred within the chareidi community.”

In fact, Agudah adds that they are preparing a lawsuit against Deri “for the lies and insults he spread during the last month around Israel against representatives of Agudas Yisrael, and the insults against Admorim and Gedolei Yisrael”.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)