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Speaking to Israel Radio, Rabbi Yuval Cherlow stated Aryeh Deri of Shas and Yitzchak Herzog of Labor do not have the right to serve as party leaders.

Rabbi Cherlow explained that from a halachic perspective they are not disqualified outright but halacha has demands, and first and foremost they must admit their wrongdoing and then and only then can they do a “tikun” and continue.

Cherlow maintains that while a private individual may take advantage of the right to remain silent, a public official has no such right and that is exactly what Deri and Herzog have done. He points out that while Herzog was never convicted of law-breaking as Deri was, he does have to speak out and admit to his actions before he can implement a tikun and resume to a leadership role.

In 1999, Herzog was investigated in the ‘Amutot Barak’ scandal (a scandal involving allegations that the party funding law was violated), but maintained his silence, similar to the American “taking the 5th Amendment”. The Attorney General decided to close the case against him due to lack of evidence.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)