Shas to endorse Likud's Netanyahu as next prime minister

Shas chairman Eli Yishai on Tuesday announced that his party would endorse Likud chairman Benjamin Netanyahu as the next prime minister.

Yishai, who announced the endorsement during the official launch of Shas' election campaign, also said that Labor chief Ehud Barak should serve as minister of defense in the next government.

The war of words between Shas and Kadima, which has escalated in recent days, reached a new zenith Monday night when Kadima chairman Tzipi Livni stated that she would not give Shas control of the education ministry in the next government. Livni also addressed the issue of coalition negotiations between the various parties, the failure of which led to early elections.

"I was told that Shas would not be able to back me, because they are angry over the fact that during my tenure as justice minister I insisted on reserving two seats on for members of the national religious community in the religious courts."

A shas spokesperson offered the following response: "[Livni's] unbridled attacks reveal the intrinsic and deeply rooted hatred towards the Mizrahi community. Kadima is in such a state of panic that they term Shas' concern for single-parent families and children 'extrotion.' Any condemnation from Kadima is a blessing for Israel."