Amid widespread accusations of Shas being racist, party spokesman Yitzchak Sudri stated that Shas is not racist. He explains the union between Likud and Yisrael Beitenu is cause for concern because with Yisrael Beitenu onboard, one may no longer assume that Likud will remain loyal to traditional Judaism as has been the case over the years. He feels that Yisrael Beitenu’s influence may pull Likud to stand behind the latter’s secular agenda.

Shas controversial election video has stirred up the political establishment as it shows the painful reality of the fast-track giyur and the threat of assimilation posed to the state by the large influx of goyim of the Former Soviet Union.

Sudri fears that the Yisrael Beitenu influence may lead to efforts to shut chareidim out of the coalition, pointing to recent history, to the coalition of 2003-2006, explaining with today’s realities such a move could have a profound negative impact on the Jewish character of the state with so many critical issues at stake. He emphasizes Shas’ concerns, the future character of the state, rejecting accusations against the party labeling it racist.

Sudri stresses the video is not against the Jewish immigrants from the FSU, for they are not the threat, but he explains the non-Jews, those with bogus conversions are, and that is simply a fact. He speaks of the hashkafa of Maran HaGaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef Shlita, who always tries to be lenient, but explains leniency must be within the framework of Halacha.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)