Shas MK Margi Criticizes Party Leadership, Blames "Surrender to Extremists"
Translated & summarized from Arutz Sheva by baba
Member of Knesset Yaakov Margi criticized Shas party leader Aryeh Deri, blaming a "surrender to extremists" for the party's poor election results. Margi cited Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef's controversial remarks on draft notices and protests by the "Jerusalem faction" as alienating the public. He believes calling for Deri's resignation now would lead to the party's dissolution.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- MK Yaakov Margi blames Shas's election failure on "surrender to extremists" within the Haredi public.
- Margi criticized Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef's statement about discarding draft notices.
- He questioned the behavior of protesters from the "Jerusalem faction" during recent demonstrations.
- Margi acknowledged Aryeh Deri's good intentions but warned against his immediate resignation.
- The MK is leaving the Knesset after 24 years of service.
Member of Knesset Yaakov Margi has sharply criticized the leadership of the Shas party, particularly its head Aryeh Deri, in an interview with i24NEWS. Margi attributes the party's disappointing election results to what he describes as a "complete surrender to extremist factions within the Haredi public." Margi, who is set to leave the Knesset after 24 years, stated that since the passing of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, the party has lacked a strong stance on the conscription law. He revealed that he was asked to refrain from speaking out on the issue at one point, which led him to "provoke the extremists," a move he does not regret.
Margi specifically referenced comments by Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, suggesting that draft notices should be thrown in the toilet, which he believes angered many people who have not forgiven the statement. He explained that while the party tasked them with advancing the conscription law, he was asked to speak at the level of the "Jerusalem faction," a more extreme element. Margi asserted that the general public is rightly angry about such extreme or disconnected statements, which cannot be accepted with equanimity.
Regarding protests by the "Jerusalem faction," Margi noted that many participants were not Torah scholars and that he did not hear leaders condemn their actions or disavow them as not being the way of Torah. He described the scenes at intersections as shameful, questioning if that is how Torah scholars behave.
Margi was not surprised by Shas's low election results, believing the public was disappointed and the party had blurred its identity. He acknowledged Deri's good intentions but stated that calling for his resignation now would effectively mean closing down the party.
Mentioned
