“Netanyahu called and congratulated us on the election and said I want you in the coalition” Shas’ Eli Yishai stated after hanging up the phone with the prime minister.

According to the ‘Hashavua Yerushalayim’ report, Yishai told his colleagues “it is not going to be easy but we must find a way as we did with Lieberman,” referring to sitting in the outgoing coalition with Avigdor Lieberman’s Yisrael Beitenu Party.

Most outsiders are uncertain just how the Shas leadership trio will work as the parties begin coalition negotiations when it is clear that Aryeh Deri and Eli Yishai do not see eye-to-eye on many issues to put it mildly. It is not likely that the two will make similar recommendations to Maran HaGaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef Shlita, but as per the agreement made before the elections, Deri handles the election campaign and now, as the party embarks on coalition talks, the leadership reverts back to Yishai.

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(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)