Free Republic

Feb. 24, 2003 Shas accuses Sharon of betrayal, excommunicates NRP By GIL HOFFMAN Shas officials reacted angrily to being left out of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's government on Monday, issuing scathing criticism of Sharon and his coalition partners, Shinui, and the National Religious Party. The party's spiritual leader, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, called Sharon, "the king of garbage cans," and compared Shinui to garbage and refuse. On the verge of tears, Yosef said that the National Religious Party behaved worse than anti-Semites by bringing a secularist party like Shinui into the government. Yosef called upon his MKs to do everything possible...

Feb. 24, 2003 Shas spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef calls PM Sharon "Prime Minister of Garbage" By GIL HOFFMAN Shas spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef has called Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, "the prime minister of garbage" for leaving the Shas party out of the coalition. The Likud signed coalition deals with Shinui and the National Religious Party on Sunday, giving Prime Minister Ariel Sharon the 61 MKs needed to form a coalition. Talks began late last night with the seven-member National Union faction in an effort to widen the coalition. The faction was expected to be offered the Transportation and...