Shas threatens to topple government if Deri fired as minister

T. Belman. A few months ago I wrote to two eminent lawyers asking for their opinion as to what would happen if the government did not abide by the Courts decision. I even offered to pay for it. Neither got back to me.

It appears that I saw this coming.

Welfare Minister Yaakov Margi says his party won’t support Netanyahu government if Deri is removed over Supreme Court ruling.


Aryeh DeriYonatan Sindel/Flash90

A senior haredi lawmaker warned Wednesday that if Interior Minister Aryeh Deri (Shas) is forced out of the government as a result of a Supreme Court ruling, it would mark the end of the current coalition government.

Welfare Minister Yaakov Margi (Shas) told Reshet Bet Wednesday morning that his party will likely not support the continuation of the Netanyahu government if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fires Deri.

“I will advise the [Shas party’s] council of Torah sages that if Aryeh Deri isn’t in the government, there is no government.”

The comments came shortly after Israel Hayom reported Wednesday morning that Netanyahu will not defy a Supreme Court ruling against his Interior Minister, and is prepared to fire Deri should the court insist he do so.

Deri has reportedly told Shas party members at a faction meeting Monday that he will not step down, even if the Supreme Court rules against his appointment as Interior Minister.

Sources close to Netanyahu told Israel Hayom that if the court rules that Deri cannot serve as a minister and Deri refuses to resign, Netanyahu will fire the Interior Minister, but will also use the issue to build support for his government’s judicial reform plan.

“The Prime Minister will express his opposition, but in the end will fire Deri, and will highlight to the public this situation, in which the people elected a person, whom the judges then rejected,” one of the sources cited in the report said.

“If the Supreme Court will force Netanyahu to fire Deri, he will adhere to the Supreme Court ruling, but everyone has to understand that the court will be forcing the prime minister against his will to fire one of his ministers.”

“We are in the midst of a major struggle, and here is an opportunity to show people who still don’t think that we need the Justice Minister’s reforms how wrong they are.”

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January 18, 2023 | 7 Comments »

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7 Comments / 7 Comments

  1. @dbdent

    Just goes to show that Shas in itself is as crooked as Deri was.

    Exactly!

    I hate to say this but maybe they should review The Ten Commandments next time they meet?

    Or at least the one which applies (or should apply) in this case?

  2. The people of Israel are working to reform the Supreme Court. The supreme court is working against the wishes of the people to keep their power and position. If Bibi does not have the backbone to stand up for Deri and fight the very people, they are trying to reform then he doesn’t have a right to be PM. He is not the man for the job, We need someone who will fight for the people and the reasons the people of Israel even exist.

  3. If Bibi does this then both Haredi parties will quite and elections will be called. Shas will gain even more seats as they did when Deri was jailed. Then Bibi will be a figurehead PM and the real power will be from the Torah sages.

  4. I do not understand the fuss about any supreme court. Why have it in the first place. Who needs it? Does the will of the people not be trusted. Why not? Send these judges to a kibbutz and let them grow vegetables.

  5. Just goes to show that Shas in itself is as crooked as Deri was. He was encouraged to do what he did by his own higher power which makes things worse. All I know, having spoken with people who admitted they voted Shas, was their intention to ENSURE a formative government … they did NOT vote for Deri. They voted for a party that they knew would align with Bibi.

  6. A constitutional crisis in a nation without a formal constitution, whose only hope of forming a functioning govt, which is also representative of the nation, requires this crisis to be avoided. The dilemna becomes ever more precarious as the crisis is based upon a challenge between the public’s will and an institution which recognizes no authority above their own. With the divisions in the nation being clear, there is also the international pressure being brought to prevent this govt from being seated and their reforms instituted. This will be a true test for Bibi’s nascent govt, and for the nation as well.

    Deri’s protestation that he will withdraw if he loses this case only improves the likelihood that the Supreme Court will actually rule against him. The Court is faced with a direct challenge to their self assumed authority. Autocrats, even those dressed in black, will see to the continuation of their own authority over all other concerns, making Deri’s assertion quite counterproductive to his interest.