Aryeh Deri, a former Shas Party leader, senior government minister and wheeler-dealer, is remembered by most as one of the more influential chareidi politicians, ministers, and deal-maker, and the youngest to reach such a high level of government.
After having served his prison sentence connected to his conviction on fraud, bribery and related charges, Rabbi Deri is now planning to turn to President Shimon Peres to officially remove the moral turpitude stain from his record, which will permit him to once again hold public office. The moral turpitude clause prohibits one from serving in public office for a period of seven years, which has not passed in Deri’s case, now approximately 6 years and a number of months following his conviction.
If an official request is filed and accepted by the president, this would clear the way for Deri to announce himself as a contender in the Jerusalem mayoral race. Just this week Shas leader Eli Yishai announced it is time for a Sephardi mayor in the capital, a move that would unite the various Ashkenazi factions and bring an end to the ongoing discrimination against the Sephardim in the city’s school system and other areas.
It is noteworthy to add that Mr. Peres in his tenure in Knesset maintained very good relations with Deri. It is also noteworthy that since his release from prison, Rav Deri does maintain a dialogue with Gedolei Yisrael, including Maran Rav Elyashiv Shlita, who to date has not officially endorsed the candidacy of Agudas Yisrael candidate Rav Meir Porush.
(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)
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11 Responses
Deri has continued to claim his innocence and refused to accept responsibility for the actions that resulted in his conviction on bribery and other charges that should be unnacaptable in a Mayor or other public figure, let alone an “observant” Jew. Until he admits his past wrongdoings, and publicy states how he would act differently, I would most certainly not trust him as Mayor of Ir Hakodesh.
While the “crimes” he was convicted of wouldn’t be considered criminal in most other countries, the “crime” that led to his prosecution (being an uppity frum Sefardi, willing to discuss peace with Arabs, and build a political machine that challenges the hiloni elite control of Eretz Yisrael) would cause an outcry among the secular parties. If one remembers what happened to the last mayor of Jerusalem, you can understand their fear. The hiloni can tolerate hareidim who want to help their own people in return for tolerating the hiloni agenda – they can’t tolerate a hareidi who threatens their control of Eretz Yisrael.
to #2: in most countries, a “bribe” requires doing something you wouldn’t normally do in return for money. You need a “quid pro quo” (a something for a something). They proved he diverted money to help frum causes (he needed to be bribed to do that?), and that he received money from someone while in office who had been assisting him financially before he was in politics (similar to a traditional Zevulon-Yissicar relationship, or a Roman patron-client relationship, but not a bribe). Such prosecutions in Israel are almost always politically motivated, facilitated by a legal system that is responsible to no one (judges basically pick their sucessors, and there are no juries). His real crimes were political, and if he was mayor of Jerusalem he would be one election away from running for Prime Minister, which would be a serious challenge to the zionist movement, perhaps as serious as when Dr. De Haan almost arranged for a hareidi-Arab alliance, and we know what happened next.
i remember when R Deri was let out of prison and that he was still very close with Chacham Ovadia I think he’s considered a gadol (even if yeshiva world doesn’t)
you call him a wheeler-dealer?!!!this kind of statement should be left for the ignoramuses in the comment section,like #2.
BS”D
Whatever the circumstances of his conviction and sentencing, the fact is that Aryeh Deri no longer has any real constituency and his entering the mayoral race would only ruin it for Porush. If he wants to enter politics again, kol hakavod, but let it be for an office that is not contested by another ben Torah so as not to divide the Torah vote and contribute to the victory of bnei bli yaal in Ir Hakodesh Yerushalayim.
If he were to get the record expunged now and begin getting himself reestablished in the public eye in time for the Knesset race, for instance, he would accomplish more for himself and be able to build a constituency again.
It’s about time a sefadi delegate got up there-Hashem Yeracheim-do you know how much this person went through-I sat down for 2 hours to watch his CD-of his story-SCARY SCARY-Every Rav was there including Rav Ovadia Yosef, Harav Kaduri ztl
Rachmanus on this man (aliyttle)
#2
On point and right!
Hmm, something’s not right here. I was in har nof when Deri was taken to prison and I haven’t been there in 8 years. His conviction was therefore certainly more than 6 years ago. Perhaps you meant his release?
Very intresting article indeed
@ #8 — is his CD online? Maybe others would watch it too.