In an address to party activists in Bnei Brak, Shas’ Aryeh Deri explains the mistakes that were made and the chasm that exists today between Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Shas.
Regarding ongoing coalition talks, Deri explained that the prime minister is aware that Shas always backed him, and “we told him so after the elections. We did not try to make a deal with any of the others. He explains the difference between the coalition talks today and those of the past, admitting that regarding the ongoing talks, things are different. In the past he explained that decisions were made and he carried it out but here, Prime Minister Netanyahu was given the leadership role and perhaps this was a mistake.” Deri feels Shas should have taken a more active role and not sit back and wait, as was the case.
Regarding the deal between Bayit Yehudi and Yesh Atid, referring to it as the (New Testament) הברית החדשה, a play on words with brit meaning “agreement” in Hebrew, Deri feels that this is the result of distancing Bennett in the beginning, immediately after the election. Bennett felt threatened and saw the deal with Lapid as a life saver.
“Even when we made offers to join with him, to create a religious bloc, we were warned of numerous directions to avoid as not to anger the prime minister. It appears we erred.”
Regarding reports earlier in the week that Bayit Yehudi approached Shas, Deri and others in the party in the hope of reaching agreement, Deri calls these reports “lies”. He adds the contrary is true, that he reached out to Bennett numerous times, citing one private long conversation in particular. He explains Bennett claims there is no agreement with Lapid, and that 60% is understandings”. He goes on to explain he asked Bennett if there is any point in talking.
Deri claims to have offered Bennett to join with the chareidim for a bloc of 30 seats, and then they could demand the Finance Ministry, which he, Bennett would receive. “I spoke of this with him a number of weeks ago and I am still waiting for a response. Now I hear on the news that they claim to have made us an offer. This is simply a lie” Deri said.
Deri does not speak despairingly regarding the agreement between Bennett and Lapid, pointing out that there is now friction over certain issues between them and that nothing is over until it’s over. The Shas leader tries to remain optimistic, aware that until coalition agreements are signed, one cannot know what the outcome will be.
That said, he admits that Shas must be realistic and prepare to join the ranks of the opposition, for in all reality, this appears to be the party’s fate for the time being.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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7 Responses
as my late mother used to say. there are three sides to every story , a and b and the truth.
I think the key to all this is that it is Deri’s version. His record shows that his words and actions don’t always correspond to the truth.
But even if we make the assumption that Deri is telling the truth, I am even more impressed with Bennett now. According to Deri’s tale, Shas tried to buy Bennett with the promise of being given the finance ministry and Bennett declined. So unlike Deri, Bennett isn’t in this for personal gain. He actually – shocker! – really wants to change things for the better in Eretz Yisrael. No wonder Shas and UTJ despise him so much.
The mistake is in not realizing that Likud is a secular party, and in not realizing that the religious zionists deeply resent the view that learning Torah is more important the their “mitzva” of controlling the land (which even some of their scholars have said verges on avodah zarah).
“Deri feels that this is the result of distancing Bennett in the beginning, immediately after the election.”
The distancing began long before the election. During the campaign Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef called Jewish Home a “party of gentiles”. Shas also ran awful ads that condemned conversions done by dati leumi rabbis associated with Jewish Home — even though R’Yosef himself accepts those conversions.
Translation needed:
Not only did I lose, but I also set up high expectations, caused much dissension in Shas, ran a desperate and ugly election , and made ROY look bad.
Now, I won’t be in the coalition, won’t be able to siphon a lot of funds for myself , and siphon a little for Shas.
OK, do you want me to go to Disneyland now?
akuperma’s mistake is in not realizing that repeating the same canards about Torah-true Judaism (aka Religious Zionism) won’t turn them into the truth. What akuperma resents is that the very existence of Torah-true Jews proves the chareidi philosophy wrong.
Foolish people cry over spilled milk. Slime and evil repackage the foolishness as wisdom.