Ron Dermer Is ‘Hashem’s Messenger’ Shas Chairman Aryeh Deri Says After Joint Iran Strikes

On Sunday night, Shas leader Aryeh Deri described Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer as “a messenger from Hashem,” crediting him with playing a vital behind-the-scenes role in the recent coordinated military action by Israel and the United States targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.

In an interview with Channel 14’s Yinon Magal, Deri praised Dermer’s unwavering focus on Iran over the past 25 years, saying the Israeli people had “received a gift” in his leadership. “I saw what he did,” Deri declared. “He has been focused on the Iranian issue for 25 years. From the moment Donald Trump was elected, he felt a mission. He worked with Steve Witkoff, Senator Marco Rubio, the president, the vice president—everyone—and they all respect him. Ron Dermer is God’s messenger.”

Deri disclosed that, in the final hours before the operation—reported to have struck the Iranian nuclear facilities at Fordow, Isfahan, and Natanz—he worked frantically to keep the Knesset from dissolving, fearing that political instability could jeopardize American backing for the mission. “Had parliament been dispersed that day, the operation could have taken a fatal blow,” he said. “President Trump might have asked, ‘Why help a government that’s already heading to elections?’”

According to Deri, only a select few, including Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee chair Yuli Edelstein, were aware that the strike was scheduled for Thursday night. Meanwhile, most members of the governing coalition remained preoccupied with internal political disputes, not realizing that Israeli fighter jets were preparing for a major offensive.

Reflecting on the October 7 Hamas attacks, Deri argued that the massacre ultimately spurred Israel into action by exposing Iran’s broader strategic plans. “On October 7, we discovered the grand plan to destroy us,” he said. “Iran lost all its proxies and is now exposed; they ran at full speed toward a bomb because they no longer have their messengers.”

With Tehran accelerating its pursuit of nuclear weapons, Deri said the Netanyahu administration concluded that immediate military action was unavoidable. “The last few months were an emergency,” he said. “We had to do it.”

When asked whether Prime Minister Netanyahu had become more religious during the course of the war, Deri answered affirmatively. “Absolutely. He saw the humiliation of October 7, but also the great kindness God has shown since. The hard work of the army and security services is real, yet he sees the divine hand guiding us.”

Addressing growing talk about leadership succession, Deri maintained that Netanyahu should continue to lead as long as he is able, praising his ability to manage the country under immense pressure. He described Netanyahu’s leadership as marked by a “unique ability” to juggle military, diplomatic, and political challenges all at once.

Pressed about Netanyahu’s endurance amid the ongoing conflict, Deri, who is 65, admitted that the burden is heavy. Nevertheless, he said he prays that the prime minister will have the strength to see through the critical responsibilities that still lie ahead.