Shas secretary Rav Rafael Pinchasi announced on Monday 26 Kislev 5773, that it would be preferable to see Labor Party leader Shelly Yacimovich get elected over Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.
Speaking with Ladaat.info, Pinchasi is quoted as saying “I believe the response to my words from party officials will be outrage, but I speak the truth as I see it and I am not deterred by anyone.”
Based on the prime minister’s performance in the current administration, Pinchasi believes Shas would do better entering into a coalition headed by Yacimovich, since Mr. Netanyahu has not acted as expected or promised. He cites the failure to legislate a new draft deferment bill as one major example, and he feels it is time “to bring an end to the games” regarding a commitment to a senior coalition partner.
Regarding the Labor Party leader, Pinchasi explains “she isn’t anti-chareidi” as was seen on a number of cases when she supported funding for chareidim in sessions of the Knesset Finance Committee. “She has proven over and over again that she addresses each case on its own merit,” praising the fact she is genuine and unbiased.
Pinchasi admits he is skeptical and fears following the elections, Mr. Netanyahu will team up with non-chareidi parties and work to pull talmidim from the yeshivos into the IDF and he will not spearhead or support legislation to prevent the future drafting of talmidei yeshivos.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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One Response
That seems logical since Shas and Labor are both more focused on improving the welfare of the poor, focusing on handouts. Likud is more likely to favor helping the poor be improving the economy. Given the trends in LIkud, with Leiberman merging and Faiglin doing well, it is also likely that Shas is closer to Labor on security matters.