The conviction and sentencing, coming as they did during a closely-fought election campaign, have certainly heightened tensions between secular and religious, and between sfardim and ashkenazim. But it was, on the face of it, a just result. Two of the three judges hearing the case are sfardi, and the president of the court is religious. I do not think that bias was a factor in this case.
What is more worthwhile to consider, though, is what kind of effect this will have on Israeli democracy.
Shas, as a party, will likely not lose support as a result of the verdict. They will use it as a rallying cry for supporters and potential supporters in the election, and that is fine. If sfardim are frustrated at their circumstances, let them vote their feelings. In addition, Shas will not lose very much support in disadvantaged communities where they provide subsidized longer school days, allowing parents to work, or in the religious community, where their outreach work is well-recognized.
The bigger question is whether Israel can allow Aryeh Deri to remain at the head of the Shas list for the Knesset. His conviction came before the lists were officially registered, and yet his name appears at the top of the Shas list. The Central Elections Committee has yet to rule on his eligibility for the Knesset. But they did close the list.
Now, he has been sentenced to a prison term. So, not only was he convicted, but his conviction was given the status of a felony. If the Central Elections Committee was not prepared until now to consider the question of Deri's candidacy for the Knesset, they now must do so.
The Knesset is the body in Israel charged with determining the law. They create initiatives and decide to accept or reject them as law in this country. They are elected by the citizens of Israel to create and implement law based on the values of the people, the State, and the nation.
For a person convicted of abusing that power in the commission of acts against that law is the anti-thesis of the purpose of the Knesset. By allowing Aryeh Deri to remain in the Knesset, or to run as a candidate for office, is to turn the Knesset into a circus, unable to initiate any serious legislation. If the Knesset is to remain credible, Deri must leave its ranks immediately.
If Shas will not remove him of their own accord, he should be prevented from running by the Knesset itself, the Central Elections Committee, or the court.
Copyright 1999. Reproduction in print or electronic format by permission only.
