Saturday, October 25, 2008

Shas decides not to join government

From Ynet News, 24/10/08:

The Shas party officially announced Friday that its Council of Torah Sages decided not to join a new government led by Kadima Chairwoman Tzipi Livni.

The ultra-Orthodox party said in a statement that Shas had demanded real aid for the disadvantaged population and sought to protect Jerusalem, but was turned down...

...In a press conference held Friday afternoon, Shas Chairman Eli Yishai said his party's decision was final...."We made our decision according to our principles. Shas cannot be bought. We stick to our goals and principles."

As for the Jerusalem issue, he noted that ".... Jerusalem is not for sale."

...Shas' spiritual leader, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, was presented Friday morning with the understandings reached between the Shas and Kadima negotiation teams. In a telephone survey, the Council of Torah Sages' members voted against joining the government.

"Throughout the entire coalition negotiations, Shas did not ask for treats, titles or any political upgrade," the statement read.

"Shas asked for real aid for the Israeli society's disadvantaged population and sought to protect Jerusalem..."

The statement went on to say that "Shas stressed throughout the talks that if Jerusalem's status is not strengthened and if it is not made clear that the Israeli capital is not cash, this will have an effect on any future dialogue and will present Israel as a country which fails under diplomatic pressure and as a serial conceder."

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