Yahadut HaTorah MK R’ Moshe Gafne has lashed out against Shas’ decision to join the World Zionist Organization, accusing the sephardi chareidi party of making the move “for jobs”.

Gafne condemned the move, questioning the legitimacy of joining the organization “to sit with the Conservative and Reform”.

“What’s there for them? Jobs!” he retorted. Gafne decided to take advantage of the podium during a Knesset plenum session to launch the attack, stating this marks the first time that a chareidi party labels itself “Zionistic” and also joins a Zionist organization.

“A chareidi party, Shas, makes the move, to sit with the Conservative and Reform Jews, for jobs. What will the Jewish People benefit from this? Education, aliyah? I did not believe that such a reality could occur. It appears the jobs are more important than the most important thing to chareidi MKs. I am embarrassed to be a chareidi MK!”

Shas did not remain silent, and the party released a statement in response, explaining the Council of Torah Sages gave the matter much thought and arrived at the decision Maran HaRav Ovadia Yosef Shlita gave his approval for operating in the Jewish Agency framework via dati leumi channels.

The statement concludes that Shas will continue in the path set by “our forefathers, following the path they paved, towards uniting bnei yisrael in Eretz Yisrael and the diaspora towards avodas Hashem, Jewish tradition and halacha.”

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)