Aryeh Deri Tried to Block Bnei Brak Protest Against IDF Chief Until Last Moment

Aryeh Deri, chairman of the Shas party, actively tried to prevent a protest rally held in Bnei Brak that featured harsh criticism of the IDF Chief of Staff. According to Michael Shemesh, the political correspondent for Channel 13 News, Deri realized that the rally was organized by the extremist Jerusalem faction, aiming to create division within Shas. In an interview on Radio 103FM, Shemesh explained that Deri attempted to stop the event until the last moment, understanding its intent to sow discord within the party. Shemesh stated, "Deri tried until the last moment to thwart this rally. He discovered that the extremist Jerusalem faction was behind it."

Despite Deri's efforts, which included delaying the rally, he was ultimately unable to prevent it from taking place. The protest in Bnei Brak sparked public controversy, especially after Rabbi Yazdi made sharp remarks against the IDF Chief of Staff. Rabbi Yazdi later described his comments as a slip of the tongue. Shemesh added that the faction not only planned but also funded the rally to deepen the rift within Shas. Deri's intervention delayed but did not stop the protest, highlighting internal tensions within the party.