Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu has enlisted Shas chairman Aryeh Deri in an effort to bring Degel HaTorah chairman MK Moshe Gafni firmly back into the Netanyahu-led right-wing bloc, following Gafni’s declaration that his party is not automatically committed to supporting any particular candidate for prime minister after the election.
According to a report Thursday night by Kan 11, Netanyahu is seeking Deri’s assistance amid increasingly strained relations with Gafni. Netanyahu and Gafni have reportedly not held direct talks recently, while the Degel HaTorah leader has publicly signaled that his party’s support following the election should not be taken for granted.
The tensions became particularly apparent Wednesday when Gafni declared that, as far as he is concerned, there is currently no preferred candidate for prime minister.
Gafni said Degel HaTorah’s decision about which government to join after the election will be determined by which side best protects the Torah world and the bnei yeshivos.
The comments drew considerable attention within the right-wing bloc, where Netanyahu is seeking to ensure that the Chareidi parties remain aligned with him following the election despite his complicated relationship with Gafni.
Netanyahu met with Deri on Wednesday for approximately two hours, with much of their discussion reportedly devoted to the broader electoral strategy of the Netanyahu-aligned bloc.
According to the report, Netanyahu told the Shas chairman that “there is a chance to win only if votes in the bloc are not wasted.”
In addition to the issue involving Gafni, Netanyahu and Deri reportedly discussed the configuration of the various right-wing parties and the negotiations that may be necessary once the election results are known, as Netanyahu seeks to secure a majority capable of forming the next government.
Following the meeting, Deri appeared for an interview on Channel 14, where he expressed skepticism that Gafni would ultimately choose to join forces with Gadi Eisenkot following the election.
Other senior Shas officials subsequently echoed Deri’s position, stressing that their party would remain behind Netanyahu under any scenario.
Shas officials argued that beyond the party’s own political commitment to Netanyahu, the overwhelming majority of Chareidi voters identify with right-wing positions, making a move by the Chareidi parties into an opposing political camp inconsistent with the preferences of their electorate.
Deri could now emerge as a key intermediary between Netanyahu and Gafni as the prime minister seeks to repair the relationship with the Degel HaTorah chairman and preserve the unity of the right-wing and Chareidi bloc heading into the election.
{Matzav.com}
