Shas party leader Aryeh Deri now announces that if his party enters the coalition, those faction members who become cabinet ministers will be expected to resign from Knesset to permit others on the party list to enter Knesset. A cabinet minister does not have to be a member of Knesset.
Deri remains optimistic, predicting between 8-10 seats, which he feels will yield the party two cabinet posts. Recent election polls however show a different picture, with Shas receiving 5-6 seats.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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The idea has been tried in the past. It doesn’t catch on for two reasons. Israel has a parliamentary system and cabinet ministers are expected to take part in debates on the floor of the parliament where they are questioned on and defend their policies. Also, if a party leaves the government, in member who gave up his seat to be a cabinet member is unemployed (and most Shas members need the parnassah).
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Labor is planning on doing the same