After Binyamin Ben-Eliezer announced he is stepping down from the presidential race on Shabbos, Shas officials are counted among those seeking to postpone the election. The election to select Israel’s 10th president is set for Tuesday, 12 Sivan 5774. Some feel that due to the current situation it would be best to postpone the race.

Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein hinted at fears of foul play. In a press event following Ben-Eliezer’s announcement, Edelstein stated that he fears one of the candidates may have hired a private detective to dig up dirt on the other candidates and his fear is that this will only become known to the public after the election.

Shas leaders feel that if the election is postponed for a number of months, the party might succeed in persuading former Likud affiliated Foreign Minister David Levy to announce his candidacy. Aryeh Deri also feels he might be able to persuade Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman and his Yisrael Beitenu party to support Levy. Deri and his colleagues believe with Binyamin Ben-Eliezer out of the race Levy’s chances are significantly improved.

Kikar Shabbos reports that Deri has met with the head of the party’s Moetzas Gedolei Yisrael HaGaon HaRav Shalom Cohen, recommending the rabbonim agree to permit Shas MKs to vote their conscience in the presidential race and not to impose party discipline.

Yesh Atid leader Finance Minister Yair Lapid stated he will oppose any and all efforts to postpone the race.

Amid rumors that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu would like to see the race postponed, the Prime Minister’s Office released a message that it is not favoring such a move.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)