Shas Leader Aryeh Deri Declares Full Loyalty to Netanyahu Amid Political Tensions

Aryeh Deri, chairman of the Shas party, publicly affirmed his unwavering support for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in an interview with Kikar HaShabbat. Deri stated, "We support Netanyahu, period!" and criticized Benny Gantz, referring to him as leading a camp of hatred against everything related to Judaism. He emphasized that Shas stands firmly with Netanyahu and supports him as the head of the political bloc, calling it "our faithful bloc."

This declaration follows recent remarks by Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, who had previously expressed disappointment with the right-wing bloc. In one of his weekly lessons, Rabbi Yosef said that "Netanyahu has no chance of repentance, but Gantz does." Deri's comments underscore Shas's commitment to Netanyahu despite internal religious and political debates within the right-wing camp.

The statements highlight ongoing tensions within Israeli politics, particularly between Netanyahu's supporters and opponents like Benny Gantz and the evolving positions of religious leaders influencing political alliances. Shas's clear backing of Netanyahu signals its intent to remain a key player in the current government coalition and political landscape.