MK Eli Yishai on Monday, 6 Shevat, announced the name of the person who is going to be in the party’s third slot as the deadline for submitting names, midnight Thursday, rapidly approaches.

With talks frozen or suspended with Dr. Michael Ben-Ari of the Otzma Yisrael party, Yishai announced the party’s third slot will go to Michael Ayash of Tzfas, who is the director of the Yated HaTeshuvah mosdos. Rabbi Refael Cohen stands at the helm of the mosdos.

The 50-year-old Ayash was born in Tzfas and is a graduate of Yeshivas Ohr HaChaim in Yerushalayim. He is responsible for running a number of kindergartens, the Pirchei Kehuna Girl’s School, a yeshiva ketana, and a kollel preparing avreichim for rabbonus and dayanus. Ayash is the second chareidi on the list along with Yishai.

It is unclear if and when talks with Otzma Yisrael will resume. There are disputes surrounding the positions that Ben-Ari and other Otzma Yisrael people will receive on the combined list. Despite a bleak prediction in all polls, Ben-Ari is quoted saying if he does not get what he is demanding regarding positons in the lineup he will run on his home in the upcoming elections.

The party’s lineup to date is:

1. Eli Yishai

2. Yoni Chetboun

3. Michael Ayash

4. Rabbi Moshe Hager

5. HaRav Yitzchak Ratzabi (assumed he will receive this slot)

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)