Eli Yishai on the Way to a Political Comeback - and Bypasses Aryeh Deri in One Move

The contacts between former Shas chairman Eli Yishai and the chairman of the 'Haredi Public' party, Moti Leitner, are tightening, with a marathon of meetings and behind-the-scenes conversations, and senior rabbis are involved. Polls commissioned by 'Haredi Public' show Yishai with greater sympathy than Aryeh Deri across the entire Haredi sector, including over 70% among modern Haredim. The data could bring Shas to real danger of failing to pass the electoral threshold.

The contacts between former Shas chairman Eli Yishai and the chairman of the 'Haredi Public' party, Moti Leitner, are tightening. After a first significant meeting, a marathon of meetings and behind-the-scenes conversations has continued in recent days, and several additional meetings have taken place since the beginning of the week. Senior rabbis are also involved in the contacts. According to sources familiar with the details, the first meeting dealt with possibilities for cooperation and connecting the audiences that the faction seeks to represent, along with the experience and leadership that Yishai brings from the public arena. 'Maariv' has learned that the Haredi Public party commissioned polls from well-known institutes to test Yishai's strength. From the data, published today for the first time, it emerges that Yishai enjoys greater sympathy than current Shas chairman Aryeh Deri across the entire Haredi sector, and is perceived as a preferred leader against the veteran leadership. Among the modern Haredi public, Yishai surprises with sympathy of over 70%. At this stage, the parties are keeping ambiguity regarding the results of the talks, but the sequence of meetings and the data indicate that this is a move being seriously considered, and it could bring Shas to real danger of failing to pass the electoral threshold.