Deri quits Knesset in move some call spin
Shas members try to convince the chairman to stay, but the tape uncovered in which late spiritual leader calls him 'wicked' may end his role; source calls move publicity grab.
Despite the Council of Torah Sages rejecting his letter of resignation, Shas chairman Aryeh Deri is determined to leave and to that end has submitted his letter of resignation from the Knesset to Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein on Tuesday, following a leaked video of Shas' founder Rabbi Ovadia Yosef criticizing Deri harshly.
Shas Members of Knesset announced that they intended to ask the Council of Torah Sages to resign from Knesset.
Senior political sources said Tuesday evening that "the fact Eli Yishai, on the advice of Ahitophel, desecrated the legacy of our teacher by leaking the tape is clear, but there is only one test that will prove that this is not spin by Deri meant to turn him into a victim – resigning as Shas chairman, declaring he will not run for the next Knesset, and announcing that he will not be a minister from Shas in the next Knesset without being an MK. As of right now, Deri's move looks like one big piece of spin."
On Monday, Channel 2 aired a video filmed about six years ago. Rumors of the existence of the video, referred to as the "doomsday weapon" by some Shas officials, have been around for quite some time.
In the video, filmed after Deri had been convicted and imprisoned for taking bribes, the movement's late spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef promises not to betray Eli Yishai, who was appointed to replace Deri, and calls Deri "wicked." He also said that Shas could lose 30-40 percent of its supporters who think Deri is indeed a thief or took a bribe.
Among other things, Yosef says he cannot betray Eli Yishai, which is why he will not make Deri chairman of the party again. He bemoans the fact that Deri is too independent and provides examples of instances in which Deri did not heed his words. Rabbi Yosef also praises Eli Yishai for his loyalty and obedience.
Deri announced his resignation Monday after the tape was released, and suggested that Ariel Atias replace him as Shas chairman. However, some in Shas are still "trying to convince" Deri to stay in his role. On Monday morning, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef's family visited his grave, read from Psalms and said Kaddish.
"We're here to protest the awful dishonor done to Father's memory, a dishonor of the Torah," the rabbi's son, David Yosef, said. "We're here to express our pain over what was done. We're asking for forgiveness, Father."
