Aryeh Deri Reveals: This is the Red Line That Will Bring Down the Government

Shas Chairman MK Aryeh Deri issued a clear ultimatum to the government in a special holiday interview with the newspaper "HaDerech," declaring that "the moment when, God forbid, there is even one incident where military police enter a yeshiva or home and arrest even a single yeshiva student, Shas will not be able to remain in the government."

In the comprehensive interview, Deri revealed for the first time his positions on several central issues occupying the coalition, including the "Qatar-gate" affair, the conscription law, and power relations within the government.

Regarding the conscription law, Deri set an additional condition: "I have set a red line for everyone: by the beginning of the summer session, we must reach an internal agreement on all core issues of the conscription law or we will not participate in votes." This, despite emphasizing that "there is no other coalition on the horizon, and this is a very sensitive period for the country – war, reconstruction, regional challenges. Opening crises now on secondary issues would be irresponsible."

Referring to the "Qatar-gate" affair that shadows the Prime Minister's environment, Deri expressed confidence in Netanyahu's close circle: "It's possible that some of the young people around him made a mistake, perhaps a rash action, maybe even out of a desire to earn some money – but I believe, and I know most of them, that there is no betrayal or ill intent here." He added that in his view, the affair has no criminal or security dimension: "There is no contact with a foreign agent. It's not what they're trying to portray in the media."

Deri also revealed in the interview that he received an offer to return to serve as a minister in the government but rejected it: "Both legal experts and figures within the government told me that it's legally possible, that the cooling-off period has passed, and that there's a rotation agreement," he recounted. "But I said: Thank God, I don't need it and I have no interest in promoting it."

Regarding his dismissal from the government following the Supreme Court ruling, Deri said: "The injustice that was done – was done. That's on them. They didn't harm me, they didn't harm Shas. God turned it into good. They thought to do harm – and blessing came of it." He even added that he enjoys not being bound to the ministry's schedule.