Shas Chairman Aryeh Deri gave an interview today (Thursday) to a staff member at Israel Hayom in which he spoke about the "Harry's Roar," the conscription law, the Mossad, and what kind of coalition he wants in the next term.
Did we win? Fatah Segal.
""yes".
Complete victory?
""I don't understand this concept of 'total victory.' Did we embark on this campaign with a great danger to the people of Israel, and, thank God, did we avert the danger in a very significant way? Of course we did. After all, the opposition likes to use pharmacy words. 'Strategy' and difficult words that we baboons don't understand, so let's speak their language.
""After October 7, we were at the bottom of the bottom in terms of the entire region and the entire world, when you see the pictures of the mopeds taking our prisoners and for almost a whole day we don't know who is on our right and who is on our left. Look where Hamas is in Gaza today. We've already been in several campaigns against Iran and against Lebanon. Not a single bullet was fired from Gaza, there's no longer that threat. Today, the safest place is the Gaza enclave, people went there during the war because it's safe there.".
""In Iran - what did we want to stop all these years? Only the story of nuclear weapons. We never dreamed that we could attack inside Iran.".
So regarding the nuclear - what has been achieved in this operation now?
""Oh... Look, I'll leave that to the Chief of Staff and the army. I'm sure they'll present it in an orderly manner.".
Deri adds: "This is the story with Netanyahu - the opposition praises the army, the intelligence service, the pilots, and on the other hand they spit on the prime minister and the government as if everything was a failure. The chief of staff and the head of the Mossad kept saying that without the United States, Israel has no reason to go on this operation alone - and Netanyahu brought Trump. All they asked of Netanyahu was that the Americans give their consent to the matter and provide protection. No one dreamed that the Americans would even join the attack.".
""It's like the 'dayinu' of Passover - about this operation, dayinu and dayinu. It's much more than I expected, much more. I never dreamed that the Americans would go with us for 38 days and that they would drop close to 20,000 munitions there.".
So you weren't disappointed when the ceasefire came?
""No. I really thought that given the situation we reached, where no regime change developed in Iran and on the other hand, very great destruction, on the contrary - maybe in the negotiations they would bring the nuclear material. I tell you again with full responsibility: Bibi did not tell Trump and the American administration anything that, God forbid, we did not think was true.".
Were there any Mossad plans that didn't come to fruition to overthrow the regime? After all, Netanyahu himself spoke of surprises.
""The army achieved above and beyond. The Mossad, which was more trusted with the plan to change the government, right? This achievement has not yet been achieved. I say 'for now' because in my opinion it will be achieved very quickly.".
Will we see a regime overthrow in the near future?
""I appreciate that.".
Will you return, and will there be a conscription law?
""The Prime Minister is determined to pass this in the summer session.".
And I'm telling you the chances are slim.
""I don't know. Sorry for the comparison, the mines that Edelstein and Galant and the legal advice placed in the law are like the mines in the Strait of Hormuz. Therefore, it depends more on the ultra-Orthodox parties whether there will be a draft law this summer or not.".
How can you maintain an army when the population is growing, not joining the army and not participating in the economy enough?
""I believe that the Torah people protect the people of Israel.".
If they are defending Israel, where were they on October 7?
""You know what, maybe thanks to Torah scholars we were able to overcome the crisis of October 7 and came out of it stronger? It's hard for me to convince you of that.".
Your friends in Gur say you fell in love with the cabinet and neglected the draft and the Haredim, Segal said.
""Look, a month after the government was formed, I received a ruling that I could not become a minister, and I did nothing significant about it. My colleagues continued, and Rabbi Goldknopf also continued in his positions, and Rabbi Gafni also, and everyone continued in their positions until they decided to leave a year and a half later. This is not a reward for me, but rather a burden that I take on, because I am part of the responsibility. With all due respect, to withstand two years of pressure from the families of the kidnapped and to be kidnapped in negotiations, I too could have escaped from reality and said, 'I am not a member of the cabinet, I am outside.' Therefore, it is a shame - it is even a ridiculous claim - to say this. And by the way, the director general of the Ministry of Housing, who is a Hasidic Gur, is still in his position, so don't get me started.".
Who will be the next Prime Minister?
""Netanyahu. I would be happy if this were a broader government, I would be happy if Gantz, God willing, passes the threshold.".
With God's help?
""Yes, why not. And as for Bennett, are you sure he will pass the threshold? I'm not.".
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