A number of Sephardi rabbonim are working to encourage Yachad party leader Eli Yishai to enter the Jerusalem mayoral race, hoping they will be able to get Shas to back the former party leader in his bid to enter City Hall, Yehuda Schlesinger reports in Yisrael Hayom. Yishai in recent months has stated on more than one occasion that he is not interested in local elections, and that he only plans to run in national elections.

The rabbonim feel if elected as mayor of Jerusalem, Yishai will not run in the next Knesset elections, and his party will not enter the national elections race. This they feel will bring an end to the controversy between Yishai and Shas, as Shas would back Yishai’s bid for mayor and this would result in Sephardi unity. Senior Shas officials are quoted anonymously in the report saying they have heard of the initiative but have not been approached officially. The report adds that the initiative has a slim chance of succeeding.

It was also reported that talks between the prime minister and the heads of the chareidi parties agreed to support a joint candidate for mayor of Jerusalem.

A Shas official told the newspaper: “There is agreement to support a joint candidate between the Likud and the chareidim. There is a desire to be part of the government, especially in an important city like Jerusalem. It is still very early, but there is an understanding in principle to go together.”

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)