R’ Chaim Cohen, who was known as one of those close to the late posek hador Maran HaGaon HaRav Yosef Sholom Elyashiv ZT”L, spoke with Kikar Shabbos to explain why Maran would not meet with former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon during his term as the prime minister.

Cohen explains he was under enormous pressure from state officials to arrange for Prime Minister Sharon to meet with the gadol hador but the latter’s refusal was adamant. He explains he asked Maran why he would not meet with him, pointing out that Maran did agree to meet with PM Netanyahu, so he understood it was not an inyan of not meeting with prime ministers.

Maran ZT”L is quoted responding as follows: Are you naïve. Netanyahu is a dealer. Today he needs me so he is here. Tomorrow, he will not need me and he will not come. But we can always deal with him. Sharon however is an ideologue, and this is dangerous. Tomorrow when he wants something he will not take anyone into consideration and therefore, I do not wish to meet with him.

Cohen added that Maran spoke against the Sharon government but he did not speak out directly against the expulsion from Gush Katif.

R’ Cohen adds that when Shaul Mofaz was serving as the defense minister in Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s government, he came to Maran to ask what should be done with the shuls in Gush Katif. The rav looked at him and asked “Will you ask me about the other issues as well so ask the person you asked the other matter to regarding this too.”

Cohen understood that Mofaz was hoping for a response regarding the shuls which would have given him a ‘hechsher’ for other matters too.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)