As has become the ritual, the Sephardi chareidi Shas Party is under fire following the announcement that it does not plan to join the coalition government being formed by Premier-designate Tzipi Livni.
During a Sunday morning radio interview with Galei Tzahal (Army Radio) host Razi Barkai, Yishai was blasted for putting his party agenda over the good of the nation – questioning his real intentions and asked “What deal did Bibi make with you?” in reference to opposition leader Binyamin Netanyahu. Yishai was also accused of pushing ahead the national elections to get them out of the way prior to the moral turpitude stain expiring on Aryeh Deri’s record, which will permit the former party leader to compete for the party leadership, possibly ousting Yishai.
Yishai stood his ground and repelled the assaults one by one. Justifiably, he told Barkai that “whatever we do, we are under attack.” Yishai explained that if Shas would have entered the government, accepting the additional NIS 350 in monthly child allowance payments, the public would shout “You see they sell out Jerusalem for money.” This time he explained, Shas rejected the offer on the table because Livni and Kadima are unwilling to make a commitment regarding the future of Yerushalayim and Shas is not willing to be a partner in a government that chas v’sholom gives away Jewish sovereignty over the Jewish capital.
Regarding Netanyahu, he stated while they are in touch, as one would expect, “there have been no negotiations and no promises made whatsoever.”
In reference to Aryeh Deri, Yishai explained that the leadership of the party is determined by the Council of Torah Sages and Rav Ovadia Yosef Shlita, no one else, promising that when the day comes that Deri is permitted to reenter the public arena, and Rav Ovadia requests that he step down to the clear the way for Deri’s return, he will do so without any hesitation.
Yishai angrily rejected the allegations, stating that he and Shas remain loyal to their principles, which in this case are led by concerns for the future of Yerushalayim.
(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)
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3 Responses
As it is, Shas pays a steep political price for being much less “hawkish” than its constituents.
Politically, they expect something in return, such as support for their social and economic program (aid to the poor). Once the Kadima-Labor coalition (and it appears clear that Kadima is now the leading left-wing party and has given up the idea of being a Centrist party) isn’t willing to tolerate any aspect of Shas’s program, there is no chance of Shas staying in the government.
Shas is a disgrace. Period. end of story.
Hacham shmaltzy is a disgrace. period. end of story.