During a meeting of Shas MKs-elect, party leader Aryeh Deri says that “everyone who pursued us and all those who tried to make us disappear, to weaken us — there are now taking stock of how much they lost by,” according to the Ynet news site.
“Yair Lapid had 19 mandates and went down to 11. I suggest that everyone take out a calculator and [see] what percentage he lost… I don’t want to count other parties who spoke all lofty. Where are they today?”
Shas party chairman Aryeh Deri, Jerusalem, December 30, 2014. (photo credit: Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
Turning the conversation to rival Eli Yishai, who founded the breakaway Yachad party, Deri says, “Shas was free from controversy, pure, holy. It was based on Torah and spirituality. But unfortunately Rabbi Eli Yishai contaminated it with what he did with controversy and gossip.”
Deri does not say which ministries Shas will demand, but says he will ask for ministries that will allow him to keep his promises on welfare and social services.
Your next read: ToI Editors' Picks
LIMITED TIME OFFER: Join The Times of Israel Community today and you'll receive a physical book of your choice, carefully curated by our editors.
Choose between two must-reads: When We See You Again by Rachel Goldberg-Polin, a searing portrait of a mother’s grief and strength following unthinkable tragedy;
Or Out of the Sky: Heroism and Rebirth in Nazi Europe by Matti Friedman, the gripping and surprising tale of a forgotten moment during World War II.
As a Community member, you’ll also enjoy our DocuNation series of outstanding Israeli documentary films, an ad-free experience of our site and podcasts, commenting privileges, and more.
We’re really pleased that you’ve read X Times of Israel articles in the past month.
That’s why we started the Times of Israel - to provide discerning readers like you with must-read coverage of Israel and the Jewish world.
So now we have a request. Unlike other news outlets, we haven’t put up a paywall. But as the journalism we do is costly, we invite readers for whom The Times of Israel has become important to help support our work by joining The Times of Israel Community.
For as little as $6 a month you can help support our quality journalism while enjoying The Times of Israel AD-FREE, as well as accessing exclusive content available only to Times of Israel Community members.
Thank you, David Horovitz, Founding Editor of The Times of Israel