The declaration of support for Likud released on Tuesday by Shas leader Eli Yishai was in actuality too much support as far as the leader of the Likud party, Binyamin Netanyahu, is concerned.
 
While Netanyahu already committed to Shas leaders in the presence of Maran Ovadia Yosef Shlita that Shas is the first party he will approach to form a coalition government if elected as the next prime minister, the premiership hopeful is trying to maintain a safe public distance from the chareidi Sephardic party in the hope of not scaring off secular voters who may cast their ballot for Likud, but remain opposed to the ways of Shas.
 
According to pollsters, Likud could pick up as many as 5 seats from such voters.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)