With coalition talks underway, the unity of the chareidi parties is displaying some cracks as Shas and Yahadut Hatorah are competing for some of the same portfolios, primarily, control of the Housing Ministry.

While Yahadut Hatorah appears confident it will receive control over the ministry, Shas leader Aryeh Deri has already been signaling the ashkenazi chareidi party that Shas will be in control of the ministry. Deri is quoted saying, “This is the eleventh Knesset in which Shas is serving, thirty-five consecutive years of Shas serving, and this time, despite the discouraging forecasts and even after the success in the regional elections continued with the polls. B”H Shas is the second largest party in the coalition and the third in the Knesset.”

On the progress of the coalition negotiations, he said: “I appointed a professional team headed by Rabbi Ariel Atias. We do the negotiations quietly, without threats and without traveling abroad. My relations with Netanyahu are excellent in order to deal directly with him.”

Deri said: “We supported Netanyahu from the start, so we promised the voters and so we believe. We want to continue this partnership, and not to my liking, all the conduct in the media and the spread of threats. It’s not respectable.”

Deri made it clear that there was no chance for a unity government or a government with a different composition than expected. “The election campaign is over. Discussions and negotiations are conducted in the rooms. There is no other government. Or this government or new elections. There is no other option. It’s a shame to threaten and set up red lines and then withdraw from them.”

Regarding threats by Avigdor Lieberman, Deri said, “I read headlines about a halachic state. We’re not really in that direction. We want to maintain the [religious] status quo and it is others trying to change it [to becoming less religious]. We want a Jewish and traditional state and we will insist on that.”

Deri stung Yahadut Hatorah: “Of course, the world of Torah and yeshivas is very important to us. We will work to preserve their status and their budgets. I learned that this term, the yeshiva budgets deteriorated considerably. Maybe I trusted others on this issue, this time Shas will take responsibility for it and correct it.”

He emphasized: “In advance, we gave up important ministries to deal with social issues such as the Interior Ministry, the Galil and Periphery, the religious services for everyone, and of course the housing issue that we took upon ourselves to provide shelter for all young couples and to handle public housing. The issue of education is one of the most important to us, and I have instructed the negotiating team what to demand in the Ministry of Education.”

Deri said: “We demand the housing portfolio, and together with the planning director who will return to the Interior Ministry, I think we can do a lot in this field. I think it’s also in Yahadut Hatorah’s interest that everyone gets other areas.”

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)