Shas at Kotel • Deri: "Political newcomer won't disqualify us"

At the Shas headquarters on Kanfei Nesharim Street, Jerusalem joy broke out at the results and talk about victory against all odds and despite the parties which harmed it. "I expect that we will yet get 14 seats," said Eli Yishai, "It is a triumph of Maran Hgr"o Yosef" . However, there is concern at the shrinking of the right and the increasing power of Yair Lapid.

Shas celebrate the achievement: According to surveys, the party won 11-13 mandates, given the battle waged against it by Rabbi Amnon Yitzhak and Haim Amsalem, this is undoubtedly a significant achievement. "Shas is stable and strong," said Aryeh Deri, "despite all the difficulties we are strong as a rock - this is the main message, though Kadima disappeared, and the Likud crashed." Deri also ventured to predict: "From experience, by morning we'll get to 14 seats." Later Deri thanked Eli Yishai, Ariel Atias - Minister of Housing and Chairman of the Israel Lands Administration, (with an implied sarcastic remark at the appointment of Moshe Kahlon), Meshulam Nahari and Nissim Ze'ev.

Deri also responded to questions about whether Netanyahu will establish a government without Shas, with Lapid and Bennett "There is no way of the government without Shas, whoever knows a little, knows there is no chance that Bibi will do so. I suggest to all sorts of political novices not to disqualify us and not to disqualify anyone," he ended with a sting to Lapid.

He added: "We must have a stable PR government."

When midnight came, Shas ministers came to the Western Wall according to the instruction of Hgr"o Yosef who told them: "Go and thank Hashem at the Western Wall." Dozens of young Shas members joined them by singing and dancing.

Naftali Bennett also found satisfaction with the results, and said: "Something new started, we returned to the center of the political stage", Bennett refused to promise that he will sit at any price with Netanyahu's government, and would not elaborate on what spoke this evening with Yair Lapid.

Later in his victory speech, Bennett explained: "We have built a house for everyone, we will work to lower prices. In this house we will create equal opportunities for all the children of Israel, so that one who was born in Yeruham will get the same chances as a child in Ramat Hasharon." After congratulating his colleague Uri Ariel, Bennett concluded his remarks: "We returned at the center of the political stage."

Shas at Western Wall: Yishai Driks

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!