After sabotaging the Amar Bill, Shas officials reportedly are busy laying the groundwork to back Rishon L’Tzion HaGaon HaRav Shlomo Amar to become the next Sephardi Chief Rabbi of Yerushalayim. This is not without precedent as former Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau Shlita became the Chief Rabbi of Tel Aviv after his tenure as Chief Rabbi of Israel.

Kikar Shabbos adds that officials in Jerusalem City Hall are signaling Mayor Nir Barkat would not object to Amar’s candidacy, which means the Rishon L’Tzion would have measurable support among the secular voters too.

Some of the questions that remain unanswered at present include will Rav Amar agree to run and will Maran HaGaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef Shlita support the candidacy for the Gadol Hador wishes to have one of his sons serve in the post.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)