Lapid to Netanyahu: Don't appoint Deri to a senior ministerial position

Yesh Atid leader cites Shas leader's conviction for bribery as reason why he should not handle the public's money.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Yair Lapid, February 2, 2015 (photo credit: Courtesy)
Yair Lapid, February 2, 2015
(photo credit: Courtesy)
Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid appealed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday not to appoint Shas leader Arye Deri to a senior ministerial post in the next government because of Deri's bribery convictions from 1999. Deri spent almost two years in prison on the charges.
"Are you comfortable with the idea of appointing a person to a senior ministerial post responsible for budgets of billions of shekels," Lapid wrote on his Facebook page. Lapid wrote.
Deri wants to return to his former job of interior minister.
Lapid included a quote from the court's decision in the case against Deri to underline his point: 
"The picture of bribery that the evidence revealed is a difficult one. This is not the case of a singular failure of a young person who has been exposed to the temptations of governing, but rather someone who consistently bases his way of life on bribery. The bribe taking occurred over the entire five year period in which the accused held public roles. The five years can be characterized by the desire of the accused to personally enrich himself quickly from his public positions."
"Do not leave the public purse in the hands of such a person, Mr. Prime Minister. This is everyone's money," The Yesh Atid leader wrote.
The ultra-orthodox Shas party won seven seats in Tuesday's election and is expected to be part of the right-wing nationalist coalition that Netanyahu is expected to form along with Kulanu, Bayit Yehudi, Yisrael Beytenu and United Torah Judaism.