Former Shas party chairman, Eli Yishai, is reportedly negotiating with Yahadut Hatorah party officials’ as he did ahead of the election for 21st Knesset, in April 2019.

According to a report in the Monday edition of Yisrael Hayom, filed by Yehuda Schlesinger, Yishai, who is the chairman of the Yachad party which failed to earn enough votes to enter Knesset, is negotiating in the hope of a renewed political future. Yishai negotiated with Yahadut Hatorah in the last election, and he was expected to receive a high-level official appointment. The newest report is that he is still negotiating with Degel, but this time around, he is seeking a chair at the cabinet table. Yishai claims he can bring his supporters, who are worth an entire additional seat for the party as well as guaranteeing the chardal Noam party will not run in the election. Yahadut Hatorah (YH) officials are aware that if the chareidi dati leumi party runs, it will take votes from them.

The report states that in exchange for backing from Yishai’s supporters, YH would ask for a government post for Yishai during coalition talks. YH has to date rejected the deal, claiming Yishai will only bring 19,000 votes, an insufficient number for an additional seat. The report adds some YH officials feel if Yishai wants a seat at the cabinet, the address for his request is Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.

Schlesinger adds that persons in Yishai’s circle report that in exchange for his support for YH in the last election, and YH received 8 seats, he would be appointed as a minister, claiming YH didn’t push PM Netanyahu on the matter.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)