Shas� spiritual leader, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef on Tuesday protested Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu�s lack of backing for Eli Yishai in regards to the interior minister�s responsibility for the Carmel fire failures.

Rabbi Yosef made the remarks in a private meeting with the prime minister�s bureau chief, Natan Eshel, which focused on urgent political issues as well.

�He did a lot during the fire and couldn�t have done more. He must be backed,� Chacham Ovadia�said about Yishai. He asked Eshel to relay the message to Netanyahu.

Shas officials have been feeling very frustrated in recent days in light of Netanyahu�s lack of backing. The party had hoped to receive the prime minister�s support after Yishai agreed to renege on his call for a state commission of inquiry into the Carmel disaster.

The feeling reached a peak after the outburst of Danny Rosen, the partner of Haifa Police chief Ahuva Tomer who died in the fire, against Yishai in front of Netanyahu.

On Sunday, Netanyahu made a cynic comment directed at Yishai, who had slammed his plan to establish new Fire and Rescue Services. �I suggest you stop sending me, how shall I put it, cover letters,� Netanyahu told ministers at Sunday�s cabinet meeting immediately after Yishai criticized him.

(Source: Ynet)