Shlomo Benizri Calls for Rabbinic Decision-Making in Shas, Criticizes Deri

Former Shas minister Shlomo Benizri called on Monday, November 9, for the party's spiritual leadership to make its decisions and its politicians to carry them out. In a radio interview, he criticized chairman Aryeh Deri's handling of the party and warned that Shas could fail to cross the electoral threshold at the next election. “My concern is that Shas will not cross the electoral threshold in the next election,” Benizri said. He argued that the problem went beyond whether Deri personally held a Knesset seat. Benizri alleged that Deri was making decisions and then reporting them to the rabbis, and criticized what he described as a failure to apologize for the party's shortcomings. Benizri acknowledged Deri's political abilities and said he did not necessarily have to leave, provided the leadership arrangements changed. He described the outgoing government as successful on security but said Shas had failed to achieve its own goals. In a November 8 statement, Deri said the Council of Torah Sages had instructed him the previous week to remain chairman. He planned extensive visits to strengthen contact with party representatives, activists and the public, and said that, for that purpose, he had obtained the council's approval to vacate his place on the Knesset list for younger representatives. Deri said he would continue convening weekly faction meetings, guiding its lawmakers and supervising their legislative and committee work.