Ten years after he left the political arena, and seven years after leaving Massiyahu Prison, R’ Aryeh Deri is expected to announce his return to politics. Tomorrow, Wednesday, the stain of his moral turpitude clause of the conviction on fraud, betrayal of trust and bribery expires, clearing the last hurdle for Deri’s return to politics.
Deri, 50, is among the founders of the Shas Party and a former head of the party, preceding Eli Yishai. At the age of 29, he became the director-general of the Ministry of the Interior. During the past year he did not hide his intentions to return to politics, even making a bid for the Jerusalem mayoral race, but that was quickly halted at the starting gate by the court, stating his moral turpitude clause had not yet expired.
Deri crossed political barriers, befriending left and right-wing politicians alike, finding support among the secularists as well. In 1999, he was sentenced to four years in prison following his conviction. An appeal to the Supreme Court resulted in a one-year reduction of the sentence. He finished serving his sentence in 2002. During the period he was out of the loop so to speak, Yishai solidified his position and his relationship with Maran Rav Ovadia Yosef Shlita, making his return to his current Shas leadership position unlikely. His expected return is causing a stir among some Shas officials.
There has been much talk of a Deri return, even plans to launch another Sephardi party, but despite his popularity, there are many who urge him not to compete with Shas and Rav Ovadia Shlita. Reports however indicate Rav Deri maintains close ties with the Gadol HaDor.
While no official announcement has been made, the political community expects to hear something from R’ Deri after all barriers preventing his return have been lifted, perhaps after Tisha B’Av. According to a report appearing in the daily Maariv, Deri has told close associates that he plans to reenter political life.
“That I am returning to politics there is no longer a question. Patience, a bit longer, perhaps after the yomim tovim,” Maariv quotes Deri as telling close associates.
(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)
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11 Responses
So what’s in the article that we didn’t know before? What’s new?
He was much more inclined towards working with the pro-peace secularists than the current leadership in Shas, but given that his former allies stabbed him in the back by supporting the trumped up charges against, he isn’t likely to propose anything new in that area (unless R. Yosef tells him to). He was otherwise no different than current Shas leaders.
This great man, Arye Deri, would be the best choice for Israel’s next Prime Minister. Halevai!
Most Israeli politicians have committed far worse crimes than Arye. As a religious Jew in a radically anti-religious court there was no way he could have gotten away with it like the others in the government do.
Is boredom weighing so heavily on his hands? What is it with chronic narcissists, whether it’s a Deri or an Obama, that they feel a compulsion to inflict themselves on the world?
Can anyone explain the logic of this sentence: “During the period he was out of the loop so to speak, Yishai solidified his position and his relationship with Maran Rav Ovadia Yosef Shlita, making his return to his current Shas leadership position unlikely.”
If Deri solidified his position, then why would return to his current (meaning “former”) position be unlikely? Shouldn’t it be more likely?
Thanks.
Go deri go!!!!
As long as Shas does not make Deals with “Israeli Arabs” I am all for him.
UTJ or the JEWISH HOME would be a perfect place for the Deri candidate.
#6 – what’s wrong with working with Arabs – they want money, the secular Jews want our souls
Editor; I had the same question as #4
#4 and 9:
The sentence you reference has too many ambiguous pronouns. Yishai is the current head of Shas. During the time he (Deri) was out of the loop, Yishai solidified his (Yishai’s) position… making his (Deri’s) return… unlikely.
#7– UTJ is only interested preserving the Hareidi minority, and “Jewish home” is more interested in land than in Torah (Deri enabled Oslo to get approved, with R. Yosef’s blessing). Deri would be the one to take charge if the religious leadership decided to challenge the hilonim for control of Eretz Yisrael, but the gedolim haven’t decided that this is possible. Yet.