Shas, as has been seen in the past, is not a novice to the political arena and not without the ability to strike when pushed into a corner. Shas is now signaling that if Degel HaTorah attacks regarding Shas’ decision to enter the World Zionist Organization continue, Degel can forget about Shas’ support for the bill seeking to add deputy ministers to Jerusalem. The bill was put forward by MK R’ Uri Maklev.
If the bill is passed into law it would solve the problems for the chareidi parties in Jerusalem City Hall. At present, Shas does not have any deputy mayors and in Yahadut HaTorah, the single slot is held by Degel but in 18 months, it will rotate to a representative of the Agudah faction. Shas and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu had a brainstorm, to expand the bill to other cities as well and thereby open slots for dozens of deputy mayors, but a public outcry compelled the prime minister to backtrack and the bill is now only relevant to Jerusalem, as first intended.
Shas however has announced it is not too concerned with the current situation, and Councilman Shlomo Atias is doing fine even without the deputy portfolio Shas officials report, Degel on the other hand wants the slot as is evident by the fact it sponsored the bill.
The Shas retaliatory threat has only been released unofficially for now, seeking to keep Degel at bay, but if the move does not succeed, the party will most likely move ahead and officially warn Degel to back down or bear the consequences of ongoing slanderous attacks against Shas.
(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)
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5 Responses
when will all the leaders figure out how to get along with each other , and then we will have piece.
The leaders do get along. Shas has the right to protect themselves from loshan horah and rechilus.
there should only be one criteria-what is good for “kavod Shomayim” -in any vote.thretening to withhold a vote for something beneficial as a means of retaliation for expressing sincerely held beliefs is not the” derech hatorah” on the contrary it is “chilull shaim shomayim” on a massive scale.It is a sad commentary on how some religious parties have lost thier “mussar” compass
this story is the very farthest right point on the political spectrum.
It is not lashon hara to publicize the fact that a charedi party joined the WZO.