Deri Decided: Shas will Vote in Favor of the Hostage Deal

Shas movement chairman Aryeh Deri announced this evening (Tuesday) that his party's ministers will vote in favor of the deal for the release of the abductees held in the Gaza Strip, this after he presented to the members of the Council of Torah Sages the details of the outline that will be brought to the government for approval. The announcement said that the rabbis "ordered Deri to instruct the Shas ministers to vote in favor of the plan to release the captives, who are in real danger."

At the same time, the Likud ministers also announced that they would support the agreement. "It is our moral duty as Jews to bring children home with their mothers, so I will vote in favor of an outline that will return them to us soon," said Minister of Culture Miki Zohar. "Nevertheless, we must ensure the safety of our soldiers in the Strip and make sure that immediately at the end of the ceasefire, the IDF completes the most important task: the complete elimination of Hamas. This is our duty to all citizens of Israel."

Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi added that it was a "difficult decision. But in a rational analysis, it is heartbreaking but necessary, when as part of the deal, the continuation of fighting after the ceasefire is also included, with all our might, until the elimination of Hamas and the return of all the abductees, and at the same time concern for strict active protection of our fighters in the field, it seems the return of babies and children now to the arms of their families is decisive."