Shas Leader Aryeh Deri Accuses Left-Wing Funding of Anti-Haredi Campaigns

Aryeh Deri, chairman of the Shas party, launched the party's election campaign on Thursday evening with a sharp attack on left-wing elements, accusing them of orchestrating anti-Haredi campaigns in collaboration with certain Haredi figures. Speaking at a party conference, Deri condemned attempts to undermine Haredi representation, stating that "people who betrayed the Torah path under a Haredi guise are being used with enormous sums of money." He claimed that the funding comes from left-wing and liberal sources, which then employ insiders from the Haredi community.

Deri also addressed the contentious issue of the military conscription law and the judiciary's involvement, criticizing what he described as contradictory actions: "On one hand, they shout about the draft evasion law, and on the other, they manipulate members of our own public, even recording rabbis. Ultimately, with the judiciary, the dismissed legal advisor, and legal advisors in the Knesset and government, they managed to sabotage the law."

He further detailed the current campaign efforts, accusing the same funding sources and collaborators within the Haredi community of promoting voter suppression. Deri said these campaigns spread the message that voting for Haredi parties is pointless because the judiciary will block any progress. He emphasized that although these messages are cloaked in Haredi language and appearance, the money behind them is the same left-wing funding.

Deri likened the campaign to a "Salah Shabati" scenario but driven by high-tech figures aiming to alter the public image. He concluded by stressing the growing importance of the Haredi and religious public as a significant part of Israel's faith-based political bloc.