A big achievement for Eli Yishai and his Yachad party as the leading rabbonim in Israel’s Yemenite community have come out in support for Yishai. The deal includes a representative of that community will be placed in a realistic slot in the lineup. Shas for years tried to receive the official backing of these rabbonim but never succeeded. It is pointed out that a written agreement was not signed at the culmination of the meeting but an understanding was reached and persons close to the deal-making process predict the signing is not far off.

It appears that HaGaon HaRav Yitzchak Ratzabi, viewed as among the leading rabbonim of the Yemenite community, will be placed in a realistic slot to enter the 20th Knesset. Rav Tzabari, a deputy mayor in Elad, has signaled during the past year that he intends to make his way to national politics. He ran in the Elad elections under and independent ticket that teamed with Shas.

Rav Tzabari told the media on Monday 6 Shevat that he has the signatures of all prominent rabbonim from the community, including HaGaon HaRav Shlomo Machpud Shlita. He promises to bring Yishai at least 25,000 votes. Talks with Yishai have been ongoing since he broke away from Shas.

One prominent rav of the community, HaGaon HaRav Shimon Ba’adani, continues to align with Shas as he is a member of that party’s Moetzas Gedolei Yisrael.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)