(ANSA) - TEL AVIV, 23 JAN - Aryeh Deri leader of Shas - religious party - has announced his resignation from the Knesset as foreseen by the plea agreement reached with the Prosecutor's Office for tax violations. However, Deri will remain leader of the party which in the previous legislature was one of the most loyal Likud allies of former Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu.
The plea bargain - with admission of guilt, resignation from Parliament and a heavy fine - allowed Deri to avoid prison. The prosecutor will not insist, in the face of Deri's public commitment to resign, on the concept of "dishonorable conduct" which would effectively prevent Shas' leader from reapplying to the Knesset.
The media recalled that the story of the leader of Shas recalls that of Netanyahu who is trying to negotiate with the Prosecutor's Office in the trial for corruption, fraud and abuse of power.
But in this case, Prosecutor Avichai Mandelblit is strongly intent on demanding the "dishonorable conduct" would keep the former prime minister at least 7 years away from politics.
(HANDLE).