I don't get it. Who exactly is represented in Meretz? Or Shinui? Or Labor? They represent broad swaths of the population? What about the Dati? Or God-Forbid, Haredi? Or Sephardi? No, they're not part of the population. Only arabs, and secular leftist Israelis. Anyone else is not part "our" population. You sick racists. You disagree with someone, knock them out in the polls - here's to Nir Barket, who proved you could beat the Haredim not on a fear platform. On a platform of what YOU can offer, and "oh, oh, run THEY are coming". Don't make a coalition with them - if you have enough votes. If not, you may have to represent the parts of the population that are not part of the population. Sick, Sick , Sick. We made a State for this kind of Garbage? Wasn't the idea to have a state for ALL Jews?

Elie to Ovadia; there was a ring.

The writer is incorrect. This is not extortion in G-d's name. The situation has not gotten better since the rebirth of ERETZ YISRAEL. The same people who refused to fight for Israel are still denying her right to exist as a sovereign nation. Ben Gurion was wrong then to allow the leeches and phonies any rights back then and the current Israeli people are still suffering for his error in judgement. No; Shas is not worthy of existance in a Jewish state as Shas is certainly not representative of Judaism. When a "Chief Rabbi" acts as if he were POPE, then his robes of power should be shredded since leeches and phonies are not wanted or needed in Israel. Shas is an insult to Judaism.

An up-to-date, modern ,and more accurate of " political extortion" would be: corrupt, parasite,worthless and other non printable adjectives. Of course all is permissible in God's name. We, and millions around the world,critisize, and rightfully so,hamas & the so called arab refugees (for 60 years?) for corruption, grand theft,falsifying documents in order to steal the $ billions collected from the " stupid taxpayers" --in short, enjoy life as ordered by their God. How does shas differ from their cousins above?,well, everything they do is "written",so are they; shnorring and begging?,so are they; roaming paid gangs, enforcing dress code, so are they; sagregation on buses, markets, temples, beaches, so are they; using women as slaves and baby making machines, so are they; waiting for A messiah (without GPS cannot find his way),so are they; rejecting women's rights to eduction, or join the work force,or enjoying a cup of tea in a cafe, so are they. In essense, just like their "cousins", aside from the language,the dress code,and/or civil behavior, there is no difference.......NO flattery intended !!!