Shas Leader Aryeh Deri Plans to Attend Vote on Splitting Attorney General Role After Supreme Court Freeze

Following the Israeli Supreme Court's interim injunction freezing a law that prevents the arrest of yeshiva students, Shas party chairman Aryeh Deri announced his intention to attend the Knesset vote on splitting the role of the Attorney General. Deri described this move as a direct response to what he called the "power intoxication of judicial activism," criticizing the court's decision to suspend a law passed by a parliamentary majority.

Deri accused the Supreme Court judges of acting beyond their authority, claiming they undermined democracy and escalated societal chaos, potentially leading to civil strife. He further alleged that the judges have become a "political arm of left-wing parties," resulting in a loss of public trust. Despite the tensions, Deri affirmed Shas's commitment to protecting Torah students and promoting a non-political judicial system.

The Supreme Court's injunction came after opposition parties petitioned against the law, which temporarily barred the arrest of yeshiva students for five months pending a resolution of their status. Supreme Court Justice Ofer Grosskopf scheduled a prompt hearing before an expanded panel led by Justice Itamar Ben-Gvir, citing serious concerns about equality and the rule of law raised by the petitioners.

Meanwhile, the coalition views the law as a necessary measure to regulate military conscription, now facing judicial obstacles. The upcoming Knesset vote on splitting the Attorney General's position is seen by Deri as a countermeasure to the court's intervention.