Speaking with the Knesset Channel, former Shas Minister Yaakov Margi explains that party leader Aryeh Deri paid his debt to society. He stresses that in addition, the people have spoken and clearly they want to see Deri is a significant post, as is evident by the part receiving 7 seats in elections.
“In this building we speak a great deal about the democratic game and a person who paid his debt to society which was followed by a self-imposed galus [from political life]…must be appointed”.
Margi adds “it would be improper and dangerous” not to appoint Deri to a cabinet post.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
6 Responses
Yaakov Margi – the exact opposite is true. It would be improper to appoint Deri to any post. He has not paid any debt to society. He has served the sentence imposed upon him as a convicted criminal. That is what he is and will always remain: a convicted criminal. Such a person has no place in the Government of Israel. One doesn’t have to a great moral ethicist to realise that.
A criminal who has ‘paid his debt to society’ is freed from imprisonment in return. It does not make him a moral man let alone someone who should be considered for a public post, k”v a senior public position. The fact that there are ‘frum’ Jews who desire to be represented by and to have such a person as Deri appointed as a minister is just sad.
“He stresses that in addition, the people have spoken and clearly they want to see Deri is a significant post, as is evident by the part receiving 7 seats in elections.”
as opposed to 11 in the previous government with the other 4 being taken away from him by eli yishai which they disqualified a lot of votes
Oh Yaakov Margi , shush!
#1 ,#2 #3 all have merit.
But once again ,this is hardly novel.
Rabin,for one, was forced to resign as PM due to his [wife’s] illegal bank account and still became Defense Minister then PM again.
There were others as well(e.g.Flatto Sharon who ran and was elected MK just to gain immunity and avoid getting getting convicted) .
Arguably,still, the norms have changed,and that indeed should be taken into account.
#5- Thank you for bringing up the excellent moral example of Yitchak Rabin. The man was already the prime minister when it turned out that his wife had failed to close a foreign bank account that she had opened while living abroad. Even though everyone agreed that he had done absolutely nothing wrong and even though his wife’s infraction was minor (punishable by a fine) Yitchak Rabin decided to resign as prime minister. Now compare that excellent moral example to the current situation with Deri and weep.