Last week, Channel 2 reported that former Shas leader Rav Aryeh Deri was offered the third slot on the party lineup, an offer that he refused.
The announced political offer earned a prominent slot in the mainstream and chareidi press alike, now being chalked up to a political trial balloon, to test the political waters so to speak.
The pro-Yishai camp in Shas explains that current party leader Deputy Prime Minister Eli Yishai enjoys greater popularity than Deri, and even if the latter can bring 3 Knesset mandates with him, this is less than Yishai will deliver so it’s a non-starter, explaining one does not hand over the party leadership slot for three mandates.
Elsewhere on the political map it was reported that Deri has already registered his Kavod U’Mesoret Party with the Central Election Committee and he appears determined to run as an independent party, a move that many feel is unlikely since Deri would not run against Shas, a move that would pain and anger Maran HaGaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef Shlita.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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6 Responses
As long as it wouldn’t wipe out Shas (bring it under the 2% minimum), it would be rational for R. Yosef to endorse two “Shas” lists, and let the voters decide. Since Yishai wants a place at the table, and Deri wants to be at the head of the table, there is a real ideological difference over what role the Sefardi haredim should have.
I suspect, that over the long run, Deri will build a broader movement that could challenge Likud or Labor (or Kedimah) for control of the government.
It would be good if both parties do not pass the 2% minimum. Frum Jews can be a bigger Kiddush Hashem when they are not associated with the state and its politics. In the long run this would serve us much better.
Oh let’s hope this doesn’t become a major Machlokes..
#2 Wake up to reality..
Deri is a pacifist and the majority of Likud/Shas voters do not buy his political manuevers re: Arabs and peace.
#4- Deri is aiming to defeat Likud, and Labor. He isn’t aiming for a handout. He wants to be Prime Minister.
Whether he could end the war (meaning, whether the Hareidim could end the war, if we were in power, as we were before the war started almost 100 years ago) is a different issue. Deri can offer to have Israel be more of a middle eastern state rather than a secular western state, and there might get things going. Given that the hilonim desire to have a “cold” peace with Israel becoming part of the ultra-secular EU, their approach is clearly hopeless.
“to have Israel be more of a middle eastern state rather than a secular western state”
What is a middle eastern state?
1. Run by a fascist and dictator
2. No regard for human life or dignity
3. Where women and children are treated like cattle
4. Money in the hands of the powerful while the rest of society lives in poverty.
Our middle-eastern neighbors will NEVER welcome a Jewish state even one run according to Torah dictates while Islam is the name of the game.