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Shas leader pledges support for Netanyahu as next Prime Minister
Shas leader Aryeh Deri stated that his ultra-Orthodox party would back Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as country’s next leader, in a move which could impact the coalition-building process following the 17 March general election.
Speaking at a rally of 10,000 Shas supporters in Tel Aviv, Deri openly declared his support for one of the prime ministerial candidates for the first time. He said, “We are with you, Benjamin Netanyahu… Our community and your community are brothers. We want you as prime minister.” However, Deri added the caveat, “We have here a massive community … and you have harmed this community in the last two years,” telling Netanyahu “we want you as Bibi-Begin, not Bibi-Lapid.” Former Prime Minister Menachem Begin championed the working class Jews of Middle Eastern origin, which comprise Shas’s core support. Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid is perceived to have spearheaded legislation targeting the ultra-Orthodox during the last two years.
Current polls estimate that Shas will win seven Knesset seats, which could be significant for either Netanyahu or Zionist Union leader Isaac Herzog in building a viable coalition. The two candidates are neck and neck in the latest polls. Reacting to Deri’s announcement, Herzog told Army Radio “Declarations on coalitions of candidates before elections should be viewed with caution.”
Deri’s decision to back Netanyahu at this stage may also be influenced by the more right-wing stance being taken by his rival and former Shas leader Eli Yishai. Due to a bitter dispute between the two, Yishai left Shas to form his own Yachad faction, which polls indicate could win 4 or 5 seats.
In other election news, the Jerusalem Post reports that a spokesman for the Joint Arab List said it won’t join a government led by the Zionist Union, as it would mean endorsing positions it cannot support. Polls indicate that the Joint Arab List could be the third largest Knesset faction.
Meanwhile, Israeli diplomats and representatives across the world will today cast the first general election ballots.