Shas Tells Pindrus Not to Speak for It After His Draft-Law Remarks

Shas rebuked United Torah Judaism lawmaker Yitzhak Pindrus on Saturday evening, November 14, after he suggested that the party would join a draft-law arrangement his party secured. Shas said its position was governed by the instructions of the Council of Torah Sages. In its response, Shas said it was not negotiating with anyone in what it called the “left-wing coalition.” The party added: “Lawmakers from other parties should stop speaking on Shas’s behalf.” Pindrus, who belongs to UTJ’s Degel HaTorah faction, gave his assessment during a television interview. He said that if UTJ brought a solution to the draft issue, he expected Shas would not stand aside. He also pointed to Shas’s own constituency of yeshiva students, describing them as facing the current legal predicament. On November 10, Shas had said in an official statement that it recommended Benjamin Netanyahu to President Isaac Herzog to form the government, following Netanyahu’s commitment to pass legislation regulating yeshiva students’ status. The party said that recommendation followed the Council of Torah Sages’ instructions. It reaffirmed its support for Netanyahu and said it was not negotiating with any other party.