Changing the position: Shas Chairman MK Aryeh Deri informed party leaders in the government on Sunday that he would support postponing the local elections if the necessary majority in the Knesset Interior Committee is found. This is a significant statement by someone who until now has been considered a person who is pushing for elections to be held during a war, certainly against the background of opposition in the Likud and the state camp to another postponement and in light of Prime Minister Netanyahu's silence on the issue.
Israel Hayom has learned that Deri informed the heads of Religious Zionism and all concerned that in light of "the justified claims that have been raised regarding candidates and soldiers who are in reserve in defense of the people of Israel and cannot prepare properly, if a majority is found in the Interior Committee to postpone the date of the elections to February 27, the Shas faction will support this postponement."
"Not prepared for the local elections", photo: Gideon Markowitz
In the background to Deri's announcement, we note that all members of the Knesset Interior Committee unanimously supported the date proposed by Interior Minister Moshe Arbel in coordination with members of his ministry.
The ultra-Orthodox support
However, since the elections were announced on January 30, serious complaints have been raised by reservists that they are denied the right to run equally for their seats in the municipality, while the incumbent mayors enjoy a campaign while sitting securely in their seats.
A Shas source said today, "Interior Minister Moshe Arbel announced that the elections would be held on this date after checking and discovering that there is no necessary majority in the Interior Committee, the government and the plenum to postpone the elections. He also checked professionally with all the professionals such as the army, the police, and other officials who announced that they were ready to hold elections on January 30. Therefore, he is obligated by law to hold the elections on this date and prepare them properly."
Interior Minister Moshe Arbel, Photo: Haim Goldberg/Flash90
Despite these statements, and in light of the harsh criticism of holding elections during the war, Shas Deri announced that party members would support postponing the elections to February 27 – the second date specified in the law.
In addition, Torah Judaism told Israel Hayom that the party would support postponing the elections if the necessary majority could be found. In other words, Religious Zionism, Shas and Torah Judaism tend to support postponing the elections, while the Likud and the state camp oppose it at the moment.
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