In his statements to the media, Yachad party leader Eli Yishai stated he does not regret running, stating he feels his loss is due to election fraud.
Yishai is not having an easy time since elections, for in addition to not meeting the minimum threshold to enter the 20th Knesset, many blame him for the chareidi powerbase in Knesset being reduced from 18 to 13.
Yishai began his words with thanking HKBH and Maran, his family, and the tireless efforts of volunteers.
He cited that over 120,000 people voted for the party and then there is the matter of the votes he has requested to have check. Party attorney Itamar Ben-Givir sent a letter to Central Elections Committee Chairman Justice Salim Jubran asking for an inquiry into suspected election fraud.
He added the party is working and will continue to do so in the future as he has been working for the tzibur for over 30 years and is not planning to stop now.
One of the prominent dati leumi rabbonim who backed Yishai, HaGaon HaRav Shlomo HaKohen Aviner Shlita commented in an internet response to a talmid following elections “We mustn’t get into a post-election crisis. All said and done, the other parties are not the English or the Turks, but good Jews who seek the best for the nation”. He then points out it is likely there will be a nationalist religious coalition nonetheless.
In a second response Rav Aviner adds “When things do not work out as we wish, we are to understand everything is for the good. To be beaten in the battle is not easy but it is not a tragedy. To be beaten without a fight is a tragedy. Nevertheless, we must not develop a trait that demands everything goes as we wish”.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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4 Responses
Just as he has no regrets running I have no regrets voting for him. I went into that booth knowing full well they may not cross the threshold but I voted Yachad none the less as they are complete mentches. I feel that I can look back on this election and honestly tell Hashem, whatever the outcome He wanted that’s what was but at least I did my hishtadlus as best I could.
And to anyone who wants complain that he cost the Charedi parties votes, maybe they should start caring a little more about the entire religious world instead of their own private yeshivas and mosdot and wake up to the fact that Eretz Yisrael extends beyond the borders of Bnei Brak. A yid shouldn’t have to live in fear of arabs or being expelled from his home just because of the color of his kippah or what side of the green line he lives on. B’kitzur the reason the people who voted for Yachad did so and didn’t vote for the other frum parties isn’t because Eli Yishai somehow hoodwinked them away – it’s because he was the only one willing to stand up for values that are important to a lot of us but nobody else is brave or caring enough to actually acknowledge much less fight for.
I hope Yishi continues. For a man who had to start a party and therefore no budget or offices or staff, he did ok. HOpefully he will connect with Faiglin and keep building.
I still can not understand how any S’phardi could vote for Deri whom we saw Maran ROJ called a rasha and worse.
It’s a real shame. Good fellows.
It’s clear that it WAS within his reach. But just in the last few days people switched to Likud out of panic of a left government.
If people are unhappy at the loss of votes for the Chareidi community then perhaps they should reconsider how Shas treated Yishai up to, during and after he left Shas.