Following his conviction on bribery and other charges on Tuesday, Shas MK Shlomo Benizri announced he is not planning to step down at this time. Apparently, he plans to wait until hearing the sentencing or pending an appeal.

If there is a ‘moral turpitude’ clause, attached to his conviction, he will be compelled to step down since he will be banned from public office for seven years.

In addition, the former senior party official in the current party lineup found himself in the 9th position due to the reality the investigation against him began some two years ago, and Rabbi Ovadia Yosef and party leader Eli Yishai moved Benizri back, apparently a safeguard should he be convicted.

MKs in the party are also compelled to sign a form stating they will always accept the ruling of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef and the party’s Council of Torah Sages, which may now call on him to remove himself from Knesset for the good of the party.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)