Aryeh Deri’s staff denies reports that the Shas party leader used his position to prevent Eli Yishai from being appointed as the head of the Knesset Foreign Affairs & Defense Committee. The appointment as chairman of this committee is viewed as a choice position, one that Deri did not wish to see Yishai receive, Yishai officials report.

The chairman slot became vacant when Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman was cleared of charges in his fraud trial. This permitted him to step down as committee chair to resume serving as foreign minister.

At present, Likud and Yesh Atid are locked in dispute over which party receives the appointment but it is reported that earlier, there was agreement on Yishai serving as chairmen, but Deri made sure this did not occur. Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein is serving as temporary chairman until such time Likud and Yesh Atid resolve the matter.

Deri’s aides insist the story is simply not based in fact and there is no reason the party leader to act to sabotage such an appointment.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)