Minister Yishai: Solution to Emmanuel row not High Court

Shas chairman Eli Yishai addressed accusations leveled against his party for remaining silent during the Emmanuel racial discrimination affair and said, "We are dealing with the discrimination in peaceful ways."

"Those who turned to the High Court did not bring about a solution. I don't know of anyone who could resolve this problem, at least not in this generation, and least of all the High Court of Justice," the internal affairs minister told a Shas faction meeting on Monday.

Yishai said the Rabbinical Court could have dealt with the matter more efficiently, adding, "I'm certain that many people expected me to take advantage of the discrimination for a campaign. The solution is not shutting down Ashkenazi institutions, but opening more educational institutions. This is what Shas was founded on – taking action. More and more institutions."

"There are those who would like to see a battle between Ashkenazim and Sephardics – but we don’t seek war or the spilling of blood, we don't want High Court appeals or blasphemy – our solution is taking action," he said.

Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, Shas' spiritual leader said during his weekly sermon Saturday night, "You know what I think of the High Court. You've seen what they've done this week. We are distancing ourselves from them. We have the holy Torah."