Shas Council of Torah Sages Forbids Arie Deri From Resigning
Translated & summarized from i24NEWS by baba
The Council of Torah Sages of the Shas party has forbidden party chairman Arie Deri from resigning after the party's electoral decline. The council called the current situation an existential battle requiring Deri's experienced leadership. Deri also spoke with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about preserving the right-wing bloc. Shas representatives will recommend Netanyahu to form the government.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Shas Council of Torah Sages forbids chairman Arie Deri from resigning after election losses.
- The council called the current crisis an existential battle requiring Deri's leadership.
- Deri had announced his intention to step down following the party's drop to six Knesset seats.
- The council pledged to work on regulating the status of Torah scholars in Israel.
- Deri discussed maintaining the right-wing bloc with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The Council of Torah Sages of the Shas party has issued a directive forbidding party chairman Arie Deri from resigning his position. The decision, published in the newspaper "Ha'Derech," came after Deri announced his intention to step down from political life and become president of the movement following Shas's poor performance in the recent elections, where the party dropped to only six Knesset seats.
In their letter, the council members stated, "The Council of Torah Sages strengthens the hands of the movement's chairman, Rabbi Arie Deri, and forbids him from leaving his position in the movement, and it is incumbent upon him to do the will of the Sages as always."
The rabbis described the current crisis as an existential battle, asserting that "the most experienced general is required" to lead, citing Maimonides that one cannot turn back from a battle once begun. They also pledged to work towards regulating the status of Torah scholars in Israel and ending their "persecution."
The council's ruling ends speculation about Deri's future, which had caused internal turmoil within Shas. In parallel, Deri spoke with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who urged him to help preserve the right-wing bloc and prevent cooperation between United Torah Judaism and the "change bloc." Shas representatives confirmed they would recommend Netanyahu to form the next government.
