As Shas is licking its wounds and attempting to recover from the blow of the announced resignation of Eli Yishai and his launch of his party, Yishai’s party goes on the offensive.

To date Shas has remained silent as its Moetzas Gedolei Yisrael is divided. Some rabbonim shlita feel that should speak out against Yishai while others prefer to remain silent. There are growing concerns as the latest polls show Shas is down to four seats without Yishai on board.

Making things worse for Shas, Yishai’s party, on Thursday morning 26 Kislev launched its election campaign with a direct assault against Deri. The party released a statement to Yediot Achronot which says, “They can write Maran’s name on the ballots, on TV or under every tree, but the public is not stupid and will not buy it. It is clear to everyone that Deri is an ex-convict and does not speak for Maran”.

Needless to say this will be perceived by Shas as a declaration of war and an escalation in the split between the Yishai and Deri camps.

In an interview with correspondent Yehuda Schlesinger in Yisrael Hayom Yishai threatens to open his “black box” which he has referred to in the past. He told the media in the past that if and when this occurs, the world will know without a doubt that Deri’s appointment as the head of Shas by Maran HaGaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef ZT”L was coerced. Yishai has maintained Maran did not wish to appoint Deri but the latter was unrelenting in applying pressure to resume the post he was compelled to vacate after being convicted of bribery and fraud and sent to prison. Yishai speaks of Maran’s last hours, when he was weak, on the eighth floor of Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital.

Yishai tells Schlesinger “There were four of us in the room; the rav in his room, his son Rav Moshe Yosef, Rav Ovadia’s assistant, Rav Tzvi Chakak, and me. A moment before he received his last injection from which he did not awaken, he broke out in tears. The tears rolled down as he hugged me tight and said ‘Reb Eliyahu, what was done to you should not be in your heart – it was not my doing”.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)