The entire eleven members of the Shas party faction convened in the party’s Har Chotzvim office on Monday afternoon, 24 Cheshvan 5774. When asked for a comment to the press, Eli Yishai stated “we are continuing to work full force to serve Am Yisrael”.

Yishai kept his remarks to the media brief and benign, refusing to respond to many questions including if he assisted in the municipal elections.

Yisrael Atias was seated to Deri’s left and Yishai to his right as they gave the press a photo op following mincha. Atias opened the meeting with an expected statement, that they are evaluating the results of the municipal elections and looking ahead to the party’s future activities.

Atias blasted the scheduled release of Arab terrorists, calling it “a disgrace and hypocritical” and he told colleagues when Shas was in the cabinet, good-will releases of terrorists did not take place.

Yishai corrected his colleague, stating “we objected but there were releases”.

The meeting came just days after party leader Aryeh Deri launched an offensive against Yishai in the media, accusing him of not assisting the Shas effort during the recent municipal elections.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)