Arye Deri, one of the three chairmen of the Shas Party, revealed dovish views on
the peace process in an interview with The Jerusalem Post on Thursday, calling
for a longterm interim agreement with the Palestinian Authority.
Support
for an interim agreement in which Israel would withdraw from parts of the West
Bank without evacuating settlements has come in the past from politicians on the
Center-Left, including Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Kadima leader Shaul
Mofaz, but never from the leader of a party that for many years was considered
rightwing.
“Shas is not Right or Left,” Deri said. “We ask rabbis what to
do and we go by what they say. We aren’t nationalist. We believe Israel is ours
because God gave it to us. I don’t believe I am an occupier. Our rabbis will
decide what is best to do to avoid blood being spilled.”
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