Minister of the Economy Aryeh Deri spoke with Kol Chai Radio on Tuesday, 15 Sivan on a number of issues. Following is a synopsis of that interview.

Deri:

Each day that I am in my new position I am hearing and learning of another matter that cannot tolerate being pushed off. We began with Dimona, then moving to daycare facilities, chareidi employment, and we continue”. Deri made his comments during the interview with radio host Avi Merom.

Regarding school discrimination in Jerusalem, Deri insists the situation is intolerable and the continued discrimination against chareidi children mustn’t be permitted to continue.

How are you planning amid an awareness you do not know how long the coalition will continue?

First of all it is almost an impossible task to topple this coalition. I do not see 61 Members of Knesset calling for new elections. A large part of the opposition does not want new elections today.

Yesterday there were four no-confidence motions in Knesset and there was an 11-seat majority in favor of the coalition. The difference between the former coalition and this one is the former was not healthy and it was not homogeneous. It was void of an identity and interests. It is impossible to work when there are four people who want to be prime minister. Today’s environment is excellent.

Coalition partners are working to solve conflicts before they occur. In another month or two all the parties will have to present their conclusions and then it will be most difficult to topple the coalition. After the state budget is passed there will be a waiting line to enter the coalition.

Did you try to intervene between PM Netanyahu and Jerusalem Mayor Barkat?

Regarding the cabinet appointments, Begin, Barkat and Elkin, it is not our issue. They received 12 cabinet posts and many portfolios. It is a matter for Likud, not us. We have learned that one must comply with agreements and it was agreed there would not be more than 20 ministers in the cabinet.

What about the educational network?

Regarding the education network we had two most difficult years and today we are still enduring days that are not exactly easy. To me it is clear that Maran is working in Shomayim for us. I look back and I don’t understand how we survived. Truth be said, it is in the merit of the principals, Rav Boso the outgoing CEO, the teachers and the staff which simply endured. There is still a crisis but we are optimistic regarding the new directors of the Education Ministry.

Chaim Biton was the first candidate for any available position in Deri’s eyes. He received a senior post and with his new talented staff, we are hoping to thrive again.

What about the Yom L’Yom Newspaper?

I said two years ago that we cannot be without a daily. The Ashkenazim have four dailies and we won’t have even one?

The problem is Yom L’Yom is not Shas’. When I left the party it was a strong newspaper but when the newspaper was sold to new owners. I met and agreed that Shas will receive the ownership of the newspaper and we were in the midst of negotiations. I am hopeful the newspaper is heading on a new path. We will change the face of the newspaper. We will published every two weeks and not too long in the future, we will be a daily again.

To conclude, what was the story with the kosher telephone?

I explained to Maran yesterday after employees of the education network received non-kosher cellular telephones. He was angered over this. They received supervised smartphones that is a good working tool but without internet connectivity. This is what I have been using for the past two years and if I could, I would give this up too.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)