Shas leader Minister Eli Yishai on Thursday night took part in a panel discussion in the Jerusalem Facing Tomorrow Presidents Conference along with Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and opposition leader MK Binyamin Netanyahu.

Yishai decided to address “tomorrow” by mentioning the alarming rate of assimilation around the world.

Yishai spoke of the Jewish traditions dating back thousands of years, and the value of instilling a Jewish education in young children. The Shas leader stated that among our primary concerns for tomorrow must be instilling Torah in the next generation, in Israel and abroad, towards ensuring the future of the Jewish People and truly becoming a light onto the nations as we are required.

Yishai addressed ongoing political and security realities, stating the Jewish People have always sought peace, but this does not mean peace without security and peace that demands concessions.

He spoke of the “sickness towards peace” that exists in Israel today, the in-fighting among the PA population and Hamas, and the yearning of Hamas to wipe Israel off the map. Once the different factions can make peace between themselves he stated, then they can begin addressing a possible peace with Israel.

Yishai stated no country in the world would be tolerating the Kassam rockets – stating with certainty that with the first rocket attack it would have ended.

In conclusion, Yishai stated, “We guarded Torah values and a way of life for thousands of years without a national anthem and flag” and we must continue doing so towards a Jewish future.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)