Friction erupted between the Otzma Yehudit and Shas parties during a recent cabinet meeting, where the government decided to postpone the Chief Rabbinate elections. The leaked exchange of strong words shed light on the ongoing tensions between the far-right and ultra-Orthodox factions within Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s governing coalition.
Shas faced accusations of attempting to delay the elections to favor their own candidate, Aryeh Deri’s brother, for the position of Sephardic chief rabbi. The dispute escalated when Shas minister Chaim Biton issued a warning, stating that if the vote was not delayed, he would obstruct an Otzma Yehudit-sponsored bill on monitoring domestic abusers. Biton asserted control over the rabbinate, a state institution responsible for life-cycle affairs and other matters concerning all Israeli Jews, irrespective of their religious observance. “It’s not your business,” Biton retorted to Otzma Yehudit leader Itamar Ben Gvir, who argued that the rabbinate concerns all Israelis. Biton further offered a political quid-pro-quo, claiming ownership of the chief rabbis and stating, “We’ll do what you want and we won’t interfere.”
The decision to postpone the elections was eventually approved by the cabinet, with Otzma Yehudit ministers opposing it and United Torah Judaism ministers abstaining. The Knesset’s approval will be the final step, and the rabbinical elections will take place after the municipal elections on October 31.
Ben Gvir, known for his hardline stance towards Arabs and leftists as the national security minister, led the opposition against Shas’s push. The postponement, as reported by Haaretz, could potentially benefit Beersheba Chief Rabbi Yehuda Deri, who is running against Rabbi Dovid Yosef for the position of Sephardic chief rabbi. Aryeh Deri had reportedly been lobbying Rabbi Yosef to withdraw his candidacy but without success.
Leaked transcripts from the meeting revealed Ben Gvir’s frustration, as he criticized Shas for their tactics and avoidance of transparent decision-making. “Enough with the tricks, enough with the shtick,” Ben Gvir exclaimed. He accused Shas of changing the rules midway and labeled Biton as anti-Zionist. Religious Services Minister Michael Malchieli, who requested the delay, accused Ben Gvir of opposing the postponement for his own political gain.
Despite winning the postponement, tensions remained between the parties after the meeting. A senior Shas official sent a message to the press, branding Ben Gvir as “the most failed minister in the government” and describing the Otzma Yehudit party as the weakest link in the country’s leadership. In response, Ben Gvir’s office criticized Deri for prioritizing personal interests over meaningful legislation on judicial reforms.
The government has been preoccupied with passing legislation to allow Deri to return to the cabinet after being stripped of his positions due to a conviction on tax offenses and suspected deception regarding his political future. This campaign has consumed the government’s attention, endangering its stability. A Likud official expressed frustration, stating that the unnecessary conflict with Ben Gvir could lead to detrimental consequences for Deri at the ballot box if the government were to collapse.
{Matzav.com Israel}
