Haifa Mayor Einat Kalish-Rotem is working towards bringing the Shas party into her coalition. According to a Kikar Shabbos News report, this may entail succeeding in transferring control of the city’s religious council from Degel Hatorah to Shas.

Kalish-Rotem has been working for the past four months to bring Shas into her government, albeit, without success. At a meeting that took place recently, the Shas representatives made their demands clear, and without control over the city’s religious council, the party will not agree to enter into the coalition.

A meeting was held between HaGaon Rav Shai Peri, a senior Shas party rav in the city, with Nachshon Tzuk, Mayor Rotem-Kalish’s number two man. During the meeting, Tzuk tried to bring Shas into the coalition, but it was made clear that without control over the city’s religious council, this was not going to happen. it is pointed out that with one mandate on the city council, Shas’ demand is a bold one.

The religious council was promised to Degel Hatorah, headed by Deputy Mayor Miki Alfer.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)