In preparation for a meeting of the Shas Council of Torah Sages, Shas leader Eli Yishai is indicating that anyone currently on the party roster will remain. The statement follows consultations between Yishai and HaRav Ovadia Yosef Shlita, apparently agreeing the current 12 MKs will remain in the upcoming list and a number of others will be added as Shas is hoping to get 18-20 seats in the general election.

What will change however is the lineup, the order of the names, but in actuality, this is merely symbolic since Rav Ovadia and his council make the decision as to who serves as a minister, irrelevant of the party order.

While things may change after the council meets, at present it appears the first five with include the current four Shas ministers, Yishai, Ariel Atias, Yitzchak Cohen, Meshulum Nahari, and MK Yaakov Margi. Atias, currently 5th on the party roster, will move to 2nd place and the others will fall in behind him.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)