Shas party chairman Minister Aryeh Deri is calling for achdus among the factions that comprise the Yahadut Hatorah party; Agudas Yisrael and Degel Hatorah.

During an election victory event on motzei Shabbos held in Ashdod, Deri explained that the accomplishments achieved in the current coalition government are attributed to the achdus which existed between him (Shas) and the faction heads of Yahadut Hatorah; Moshe Gafne and Yaakov Litzman. Deri added, “I don’t recall a time when there was such close cooperation between us and they did not succeed in driving a wedge between us and this is the secret of our success in this administration”.

He added, “Unfortunately, this achdus was somewhat shaken, perhaps considerably during the municipal elections. We are passed this. I forgot it all and I call on everyone to forget it as well, all of it, and to move forward with unified fortitude as we do not have the privilege to continue any other way. Our responsibility towards out children and towards the Torah demands from us, to return and to move together hand in hand”.

Deri spoke of the difficulties surrounding entering the coalition in Ashdod, where Shas earned six seats around the city council table headed by Avi Amsellem. But despite this and despite statements from Mayor Yechiel Lasri on election eve, a coalition agreement hasn’t yet been signed. “Take Ashdod for an example: We are the only ones who backed Lasri officials and we brought him a victory. It was a difficult and ugly campaign in Ashdod and we survived this too.”

Regarding election polls that give Shas seven seats if elections were held for Knesset today, Deri said “I saw the polls and heard the explanations. I heard those being maspid Shas, but I know and believe that the building that we construction with Gedolim is not going to be dismantled. The number that not one of the pollsters can explain, that 274,000 people voted Shas. This is the response to them all and now, we must resume working”.

Chairman of the Knesset Education Committee MK Yaakov Margi then addressed the Shas’ victory and the polls preceding the municipal elections.

“All the polls that you have seen in recent years are all ordered, and they prepare the questions trying to build a trend on Shas. I’m sure there are commentators who have already prepared a complete interpretation after the municipal elections how Shas crashed, but they had to eat their hat.”

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)