Speaking to Channel 1 TV Evening News, Shas election campaign leader Aryeh Deri stated “no one can say Shas is not true to its commitment” to assist low income families. He reminded listeners that Shas refused to approve the state budget and that is why the government was compelled to agree to early elections. Deri stated “other parties were willing to go along with a 15 billion NIS cut but not Shas,” adding “we will not sit in a government that cuts the basics from the poor.” Deri stated if need be, his party will remain in opposition but selling out low-income families is not an option, a non-starter.
Deri explained that he is aware of the fact that there must be cuts in government spending, but not from the poor, decrying “the price of basic food items including bread and oil are among the highest in the civilized world.”
When asked to comment on Labor Party leader Shelly Yacimovich, Deri praised her open mind, her honesty and admitted in the area of concerns for the low-income Israelis, Shas and the Labor Party leader are not far apart. Nevertheless, he explained that it must be understood the polls show Netanyahu will be reelected.
Deri added that it is clear that for some Likudniks, at present, Shas is not the first choice for a coalition partner, as was recently stated by Tzipi Chotovely, and coalition chairman Ze’ev Elkin.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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4 Responses
It’s really great to be able to demand to be the minister of spending other people’s money. Obama would love the job.
It’s being in charging of raising the money that’s a problem. Deri’s approach is fine if Shas is aiming to never be anything more than a minor party trying to get patronage – but Deri aims higher, and a ruling party has to concern itself with balancing the budget.
The $ha$ party is all about money. They’d give back Yehuda and the Shomron in a heartbeat if it somehow meant more money for their constituents. The welfare of the State of Israel doesn’t matter, as long as $ha$ gets its money.
#2- While from a Macroeconomic perspective, Shas is delusional (similar to Democrats in the USA), their gadol (who probably would be “elected” the “Gadol ha-Dor” if all Shomer Shabbos could vote) has made clear is belief that a meaningful peace is more important than land, and that the welfare of Klal Yisrael is the highest priority. That’s what a frum party should do. Their support for poor is commendable and consistent and quite transparent.
The modern Israel was founded on socialist principles with a smattering of “freedom” mixed in. The problem is you can’t have your freedom mixed with big govt programs because as we see in the USA, the socialist liberal democrat party which has given us all the social programs, including the 50 YEAR WAR (war on poverty which sees no end in sight), you end up reelecting Baracka Claus who intends to give even more money that we font have.
Socialism & all its forms have failed all over because there ends up being no leg to stabd on.