(VIDEO IN EXTENDED ARTICLE)

The following is based on a Channel 2 News report filed by Amit Segal, based on a phone call between Shas Chairman Aryeh Deri and Yaakov Cohen, a son of Shas’ spiritual leader HaGaon HaRav Shalom Cohen Shlita. It was aired on the Channel 2 TV News on Monday evening the eve of 18 Cheshvan.

While Deri continues to exhibit a calm exterior despite worrisome election polls and internal party strife, insisting all is well in-house, hearing his words in this conversation speaks volumes of what is really taking place in Shas and just how concerned the party chairman really is. Segal points out Yaakov Cohen recorded Deri without his knowledge and then it appears, the recording made it way to the media.

Deri begins by calling on Yaakov to cut ties with all of his enemies in the party, focusing on Jerusalem Sephardi Chief Rabbi Shlomo Moshe Amar Shlita. While Deri has publicly signaled the ‘brogus’ between him and Shas and Rav Amar has been mended, the phone call tells a different story, as Deri fears Rav Amar wishes to run the show at Shas, explaining “He does not know anything else other than being in charge”.

“I am aware just how much Amar can contribute to us as I also know on that same day we close Shas as we know it and build a new Shas because he wants to rule. There is nothing else for him. He is bored, and he desires to be in charge, and as your father runs from kovod, he is the opposite…there are no real talmidei chachamim who are tied to him…he has no chassidim…They know no boundaries and simply want to rule…”

Deri then attacks party colleague MK Yaakov Margi of trying to unseat him by using the police investigations against him. He blames Margi, who is loyal to Rav Amar, of leading the coup against him from inside”.

Clearly, Deri is on his way out. This private conversation made its way from Cohen to Deri’s enemies and the media. Clearly, based on all recent polls, Shas is imploding as the party would earn a mere four seats if elections were held today, the minimum to pass the threshold to enter Knesset.

The very existence of the recording shows just how serious the dispute inside the party has gone. Many explain this was also the reason Yigal Guetta was recently compelled to step down, for Deri pushed him out.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)