Speaking with Kol Chai Radio on Tuesday, 12 Teves 5773, Interior Minister (Shas) Eli Yishai stated that Shas will recommend to President Shimon Peres after the general elections that the mandate to form a coalition government should go to Likud. Yishai’s favorable turn towards Likud represents a seasoned politician’s keen analysis of reality, one that is accompanied by the realization that in four weeks Shas will seek a prominent place in the forming government.

Yishai is working to counter remarks attributed to colleague Housing Minister Ariel Atias by Maariv in which Atias is quoted as saying “without Shas in a prominent place in the next coalition, along with the Housing Ministry, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu will not be prime minister”. Yishai told the media the remarks attributed to Atias were inaccurate.

When asked why Shas continues to express support for a government led by Likud, Minister of Religious Affairs (Shas) Yaakov Margi told Israel Radio on Wednesday afternoon (13 Teves) that Shas has led a revolution. Margi feels that telling the tzibur that Shas will recommend Netanyahu is realistic, but he adds “listen carefully”, Minister Atias single handedly led a housing revolution and no one can do the job he did. The public is not made of fools, and I am calling on the majority of Likud voters, who are Shas supporters, to come home.

Margi explains that supporting Netanyahu to head the next coalition does not represent weakness, but reality, stressing we will not give in on the social economic issues. The public knows the upcoming cuts will hit the lower income, explaining Shas’ unwillingness to support the state budget in the outgoing administration resulted in the upcoming general elections so voters understand.

When asked about Rabbi Chaim Amsellem, Margi stated “this is another matter” but the former’s election bid is in no way a threat to Shas.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)