Shlomei Emunim faction head MK Meir Porush told Mishpacha Magazine during an interview that he will hold primaries to determine the lineup of candidates as was done by the part in various local elections. Porush is making good on his word, telling faction members prior to the last election two years ago that in the coming elections there would be primaries. He held primaries in the last local elections held in Ashdod and Beit Shemesh.
There is a growing voice for primaries in the chareidi parties as well, including both Shas and Degel Hatorah but it does not appear this will be the case in the upcoming election. They will continue having faction leaders making suggestions to to gedolei hador and those recommendations are generally approved.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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Very courageous Rav Porush!!!
Former Shas chairman Eli Yishai met with Rav Aharon Leib Shteinman on Erev Shabbos and received his blessing to leave the Shas party, according to reports in Israel Radio and Walla News, reports Times of Israel.
Yishai has yet to make a final decision, according to those reports, but is likely to make an announcement early this week.
Yishai’s expected choice to split from the party comes after reconciliation attempts with current party chairman and long-time rival Aryeh Deri appear to have failed.
Pundits have speculated in recent days that Yishai could join with Housing and Construction Minister Uri Ariel (Bayit Yehudi) – who is also locked in an internal struggle with his party leader, Naftali Bennett, and may be on the verge of splitting – to form a new party, Times of Israel reports.
Mounting pressure within Shas to remove Yishai from the electoral list ahead of the upcoming March 2015 elections could split the party into two separate factions.
Tensions came to a head Wednesday during a meeting with the Moetzet Chachmei Hatorah, where Yishai was presented with a list of conditions that Deri demanded be met before the two could reconcile. Deri’s demands included that Yishai draft a letter of resignation that could be used at any time if the former chairman acted against the interests of the party. Yishai refused to comply with Deri’s demands.