After the deals made between Degel Hatorah and Shlomei Emunim in Elad and Beit Shemesh were publicized, Shas officials expressed anger, insisting their interests and their wish lists have been ignored. Party officials explain that the Sephardi chareidi party has totally been ignored in the deal-making between Degel Hatorah and Shlomei Emunim.

A senior party official is quoted by Kikar Shabbos News stating, “We lost Elad for ten years,” adding, “It is no secret that the name Yossi Sheetrit has fallen from the agenda, and now, they are talking about Yitzchak Pindrus. After all, regarding Sheetrit, it remains to be seen if this is an achievement, for after all, he is a Degel litvish candidate, and Pindrus, how does this relate to Shas? More than this, not only during the current term, but the next term, when the city will return to Shlomei Emunim in line with the agreement – and this is a Sephardi city, simply a closeout sale!”

Another senior official is quoted: “If we thought we were just losing Elad, in the next term, Beit Shemesh is lost to the Ashkenazim too. And all of this in negotiations that involved Shas? How can we look at our voters? We sold the chareidi cities to Yahadut Hatorah”.

Knesset members in the party are also frustrated by the conduct of senior officials in Deri’s office, who conducted the negotiations, but prefer to keep quiet, so as not to cause tension on the eve of fateful elections for the party.

“The same people are now bringing to a foregone loss, what a shame,” a senior party official concluded. “After all, Deri has promised repeatedly that he will run a Sephardic candidate in Elad. We’ll see what happens now.”

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)