A moment after Reuven Rivlin's sweet victory, I met MK Eli Yishai, who seemed to be beaming with happiness.
• Actually, you won. You supported him all along, even though you didn't want to identify with him publicly and say it out loud – but my feeling is that's what happened... and here you are, winning.
""I am very happy that he was elected. In preparation for the second round, I began my actions completely openly, as did all my friends.".
• The truth is, you told me before the second vote that "every Shas member will support him," I asked myself: Surely he knows what's going on in every Shas member? And I went to check. It turned out you knew...
""That's right. I'm glad we succeeded.".
• How did you manage to convince the entire faction?
""It was clear. Based on our acquaintance with the candidates, we were divided between one candidate or another, but in the second round it was clear to us that he was the most suitable.".
• If Rabbi Ovadia Yosef were alive, do you think he would tell you to vote for Rivlin?
""Unequivocally yes! He told me that after Shimon Peres was elected. He told me that in his own voice!""
• And did you tell your friends about it at the faction meeting?
""I said.".
• And it didn't help... (for the first round...)
""It helped," he replied, with a broad smile. So it's true, in the second round it helped, but it seems that the identity of the opposing candidate helped more.
After all, in the internal politics of Shas, you have to figure out which statement by which MK will be beneficial, and which will only alienate voters.
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