MK Moshe Gafne on Tuesday evening 8 Teves telephoned Shas leader MK Aryeh Deri in an effort to persuade him not to resign as a Member of Knesset. Gafne, who is well-aware of the ramifications the demise of Shas can have regarding chareidi representation in Knesset, wished to give Deri a chizuk at this difficult time.
Gafne asked Deri not to take irreversible steps, pointing out that when the entire chareidi tzibur is attacked, the chareidi MKs have a higher responsibility, to do what they possibly can to strengthen the tzibur’s representation in Knesset.
Analysts are already pointing out that ironically, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu opted for new elections after realizing he is no longer willing to tolerate the daily demands hurled at him by Yesh Atid. Since new elections have been announced, it has been clear to all that if they wish to enter the new coalition, the chareidim will play an integral role in the 20th Knesset. Now however it appears the chareidi representation may be lower than it has been in years and this has the chareidi tzibur concerned and even angered.
There are fears that if the snowballing events launched by Eli Yishai’s resignation from Shas are not stopped, the damage will be too great to mend ahead of national elections.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
14 Responses
Yahadit Hatorah itself is taking an irreversible step!
They should call for unity and not take sides!
I’m sure this isn’t coming from Rav Steinman!!!
Or support both sides. Deri and Yishai bring in different crowds, so why not just have a clean campaign and then together the chareidi bloc can reach over 20 seatS.
I don’t think he’s taking a side if deri doesn’t run in the next election the charedim will most probably lose from it you can hate deri but the charedim need the most seats possible to help the charedi zibur.
MDsweks,
They don’t say Mr. Yisahi should resign? They want both. More seats translate to a stronger charedi presence and influence. Sooo I don’t understand how it’s explained as taking sides. I would bet they prefer Mr. Yishai getting 20 seats as well as shas another 20. They want both to be winners! (this translates to Charedis being winners.)
This would be a good time to reintegrate Shas into Yahadut ha-Torah, especially with the more nationalist elements of Shas having gone off (hopefully to a Hardal party that will pass the threshold). A single haredi list will be more impressive than multiple ones, and eliminates the risk of anyone wasting votes.
#1 right on
Netanyahu tried hard to bring the Chareidi parties in and intends to do so in the future.
“Cheap shots” certainly is the improper way to retain the esteem that he holds for the religious parties.
Shas, unfortunately, still is a largely sectoral party either in its adolescence or obsolescence.
UTJ better act with the propriety that is expected of them .
Let’s review what has happened here in the last few years and we can then appreciate what’s wrong with the Hareidi representation:
Shas brought back a convicted felon, albeit who served his time and then stayed away for the required amount of time, as leader of the party. Why Rav o’vadia would allow this is not clear. We do know that he was very opposed to the idea when he was healthy and prior to his last few months of his life when he did not have the strength to deal with day to day problems. We know that Deri and team were instrumental in getting Oslo passed.. There is no doubt that with Deri calling the shots Bayit hayehudi was concerned of a leftist government and co-opted the hated Lapid to form a blocking bloc in the Knesset. lLapud required no Hareidim in government and blackmailed netanyahu to pass laws that he was against. Then the government fell. Shas, degel, and aguda all put out the word that labor arab coalition is an option. This doesn’t leave many people with a choice of supporting torah and life.
Eli yishai is the only choice.
why cant yishai and deri agree to swap the top spots
#8 is right, Deri is more dangerous than Lapid.
Shas should try to persuade Eli Yishai to come back (not Deri) -then all is well!
the situation is bad as long as there is no clear and accepted דעת תורה. I say all the Haredim should unite under one banner with separate faction within. we are at war with the secular, or under attack from them. So get your act together, Who cares if you’r a ashkenazi/sephardi/ hasidic/modern? If you keep shabbos, eat kosher, learn Torah stick together and the differences about the IDF will be worked out. Isn’t the Giyur issue and the draft more important? Isn’t the money for all the poor more important?
Beautiful
(But then some would stay home rather than support a “united” ballot)
Why is it so clear to them that it’s better if he stays?
If he’s out and the rest unite in some form they look much much cleaner to the outside Joe. If he’s in, the words of Rav Ovadia: “Rasha, Atzmaee” will haunt him and people will stay away from this mess.
I really do not get those who think he’s so needed. His sparkle is gone…