Shas chairman Aryeh Deri declared publicly for the first time that his party will not enter a coalition government unless the status of Torah learners is fully secured, according to remarks featured Thursday on the front page of the Shas-affiliated newspaper Haderech.
The statement appeared alongside a sharply worded column warning of what the paper described as the potential consequences of a future left-wing government in Israel.
In the report published Thursday morning, Deri was quoted as saying that Shas would not join a coalition or government “without a full arrangement regarding the status of Torah learners.” At the same time, messages emerging from the newspaper and from figures close to the party indicated that Shas continues to align itself with the right-wing bloc, even if it is not formally declaring that position at this stage.
Despite the cautious political messaging, Shas officials have avoided explicitly defining the party on paper as belonging to any specific bloc. Nevertheless, individuals close to Deri — including columnist Ushi Medina — warned against the possibility of a left-wing coalition taking power. According to those figures, such a political shift could lead to sweeping changes in Israel’s policies on legal, religious, and social matters.
A column published in the newspaper offered a stark assessment, arguing that a future left-wing government could move aggressively on judicial reforms and senior government appointments while also pursuing major changes in matters of religion and state.
The article specifically pointed to potential changes involving Shabbos observance in the public sphere, conversion policy, religious services, and the standing of rabbinic institutions. It warned that such developments could weaken the position of the chareidi public and the institutions of the Torah world, while fundamentally reshaping the character of public life in Israel.
If only the frummeh would be able to all leave and allow the apikorsim, the sonei Torah, to self-destruct and collapse inwards. It would go a long way to bringing the geulah.
Who are these people fooling? Whatever grief the current coalition gives them, the others would multiply. The others would break all agreements as their track record makes clear. The ridiculous supreme court is not affected by mere elections.
Marc O. Vitch, spoken like a village idiot! THE MOST SUPPORT FOR TORAH COMES FROM THE STATE OF ISRAEL. Where should they go? By any measure, the state is becoming frummer. Moshiach will come from a hesder yeshivah and wear a kippah serugah.
Who cares where Moshiach comes from and what he wears? Let him come already.