Shas leader Eli Yishai told Israel Radio’s Reshet Bet on Thursday morning 27 Shevat 5773 that coalition talks were carrying on in a regular fashion and the seemingly limitless statements to the media is part of the game.

Regarding a coalition including Yesh Atid, Yishai explained “bringing Yair Lapid on board is more expensive than Shas for example because he has a larger list of demands.”

Regarding the sharing the burden issue, the growing consensus that chareidim must serve in the IDF or an approval national service, Yishai insists that the facts are not being presented accurately. He explained how in his family for example, there are many people serving in the IDF and he rejects the allegations that chareidim are not taking part in their national responsibilities. Yishai explained that he knows for a fact there are thousands of chareidim waiting to be accepted to Nachal Chareidi or national service but officials prefer to present the facts in a different light.

“The lack of sharing the burden actually comes from the non-frum community, for we alone have been keeping Am Yisrael going over the years with the limud Torah. Even when we were slaves in Egypt there was limud Torah and this cannot be halted.

“There is a need for additional national service programs. You do not get it. Learning Torah full time is not an easy profession. Actually, I have learned but I realized I am among those incapable of learning full time. It takes a certain level of commitment and abilities. We must find a suitable program for those who cannot [learn full time].”

RESHET BET:

Who decides who is Shevet Levy and continues learning and who must get out and work, serve in the IDF and so forth?

YISHAI:

Each person decides for himself. One who believes he is capable of learning full time and wishes to, will do just that.

For 1,800 years before the establishment of the state we were all over the world and continued, due to the zechus of the ongoing limud Torah. How can we have survived despite it all, the Torah and this must be understood.

RESHET BET:

But in Brooklyn for example, they have not lost their faith and they are getting out and working too.

YISHAI:

There too there are many who learn full time and don’t work.

RESHET BET:

But there, it relates to the exceptional ones. I accept that. I don’t care to be a chiloni fanatic either. Those elite selected ones fine, but not everyone. It’s not good for your community either. It perpetuates poverty. What about the 10,000 chareidim that learned and got degrees? Have they lost their faith? We know they haven’t.

YISHAI:

That is what I am telling you. Most chareidim are working. We founded the chareidi academic institution and since it is suitable for their lifestyle they are coming as we see. Before this there was no institution that operated in a suitable framework so chareidim did not have this alternative.

RESHET BET:

Aryeh Deri and you led Shas over the years and during that time, you remained loyal to the Likud most of the time. You prevented Livni from becoming prime minister in 2008 and Netanyahu formed the government because of you personally. You used to be loyal to the yishuvim as well and Shas did not vote in second building freeze vote in Knesset. Today, Likud does not stand behind you and dati leumi community wants to get you out, now shouting for Zionist chief rabbis. So tell me what happened.

YISHAI:

This is politics to my sorrow. I personally act differently but this is politics. I don’t see a stable government without Shas but who knows. We may be in opposition but that is not what concerns me. What is important is to reach understanding on the critical issues.

Regarding how parties act, each acts as it see fit. Some feel being a mench is important and others may not. I am not overly sensitive by statements and political spins.

RESHET BET:

Is Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu in contact with you?

YISHAI:

Yes he is like with the other parties. He wants both Lapid and Shas as well as Yahadut Hatorah and Tzipi Livni. I suspect Mofaz as well. He wants a broad government. It will be complicated to put it mildly.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)