Speculation that Shas party MK Eli Yishai is working to build the infrastructure for his new party, awaiting the opportune time to announce his break from Shas. Yishai met with Chief Rabbi of Ra’anana Yitzchak Peretz, who was a senior Shas minister during Deri’s first tenure as party leader prior to being sentenced to prison. Rabbi Peretz left the political arena due to irreconcilable differences with Deri.
Kikar Shabbos reports that Yishai met with the rav in his home on Sunday afternoon 9 Marcheshvan for an hour.
When asked to comment, Rabbi Peretz told Kikar Shabbos that Yishai came to meet with him to consult on the matter of giyur. He stressed the meeting addressed halachic and not political issues.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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2 Responses
Hope so, he should be crowned leader of SHAS since his legacy is closer to that of Maran.
Due to the increase in the “threshold” (minimum number of seats for a party to be allowed in the Kenesset), it would be dangerous for any small party to split. In theory Shas could, but it would have to be close to a 50-50 split, or the smaller faction would be erased (and its votes would be thrown out).