Former Shas leader Rabbi Aryeh Deri is expected to turn to the head of the Central Elections Committee, Supreme Court Justice Eliezer Rivlin, to rule if he is indeed permitted to run as a candidate in the upcoming Jerusalem mayoral race.

Deri was convicted of his crimes nine years ago, but the law, which was amended after his conviction, states if the conviction is accompanied by a moral turpitude clause, one is barred from serving in public office for seven years following one’s release from prison. This would clear Deri for public service in July 2009, a number of months after the city election. The old law was for five years.

Deri has been debating if he will turn to President Shimon Peres to curtail the moral turpitude period, or to turn to Justice Rivlin for a ruling in the matter. On Sunday, aides to the former senior minister reported he appears inclined to turn to Justice Rivlin for a ruling in the matter.

Simultaneously however, Deri’s attorney Ram Caspi has met with Justice Minister Daniel Friedman in recent weeks, seeking to persuade him to turn to President Peres to wipe out the mortal turpitude clause. It appears in actuality he is not seeking to shorten the period but rather to have the president remove it from his record. Caspi released a statement that he believes Friedman supports the move but they are awaiting his response. Until such time, it does not appear that Deri will make any formal request of President Peres.

The polls show that if he runs in the race, he leads all other chareidi candidates and ties with opposition Jerusalem Councilman Nir Barkat.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)