Officials close to HaGaon HaRav Shalom Cohen Shlita deny a Yisrael Hayom report that Shas is imploding and they Aryeh Deri is not viewed as the person who will continue to lead the party in the futuretement released by Rav Cohen’s office reads, “The home of the president of the Moetzas Gedolei Yisrael Maran Chacham Shalom regrets the repeated attempt of the daily newspaper Yisrael Hayom to lie and falsify things that were supposedly said in the name of the rabbi and make it clear that all the quotes quoted in his name have never been uttered.”

“Maran gives full backing and strength to his emissary and right-hand man, Rabbi Aryeh Deri, and davens for him every day that he will live in peace and tranquility, and this can be felt in the rare letter that Maran wrote to Rabbi Deri last week.”

“The journalistic ethics were revealed in full nakedness when a response they sent yesterday to the editorial staff of the newspaper, which denies this, was not published.”

Kikar Shabbos News adds a message sent to Yisrael Hayom was not included in the article. The notice, signed by Meir Pinchas, an aide to the rav said, “I have learned you plan to release an article stating there is or was an effort and gathering of Shas MKs to discuss the future of Aryeh Deri and preparations for the ‘day after’ [as they defined it], which were supposedly brought to the attention of Rabbi Shalom Cohen for his opinion”.

“I hereby declare in the clearest fashion and to remove any doubt that there was no such organization and never raised this issue on his desk and nothing was brought to the attention of the Rabbi, nor was he a parable Rabbi Shalom Cohen gives full backing and strength to his emissary and right-hand man Aryeh Deri and prays for him Every day that he will live on his kingdom with pleasure and peace. ”

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)