It would appear that Shas leader Eli Yishai has had enough of the insults. He came out in a scathing attack against Kadima leader Tzipi Livni and senior party officials, labeling them �racist� for their derogatory remarks that �Shas tried to extort a deal� in coalition negotiations.

Yishai questions why the word �extortion� is not used in reference to the Labor Party, who did indeed sign a coalition deal, but not before receiving commitments amounting to NIS 1.5 billion.

In his remarks during a session of the Shas faction on Monday he stated, �regarding Shas, the Sephardim, they can speak this way� it appears extortionists have a certain look, with beards� the more that defame us the stronger we will become.�

In Yated Neeman, affiliated with Degel HaTorah, the newspaper warns the Livni campaign will undoubtedly refer to the �extortion of Shas� and this was the launching of her election campaign, quoting Livni as stating, �They will not succeed in extorting me.�

(Yechiel Spira � YWN Israel)