Eli Yishai eyes political comeback, outpacing Aryeh Deri

Contacts between former Shas chairman Eli Yishai and the chairman of the "Haredi Tzibur" party, Moti Leitner, are intensifying. Following their initial meeting, a marathon of behind-the-scenes negotiations has continued, with several additional sessions held since the beginning of the week. Notably, senior rabbis are also involved in these discussions.

According to sources familiar with the details, the first meeting was significant, focusing on potential cooperation and connecting the demographics the faction seeks to represent, while leveraging the experience and leadership Yishai brings from the public arena. Since then, contacts have continued intensively as both sides examine their path forward.

"Maariv" has learned that the Haredi Tzibur party commissioned several polls from prominent institutes to test the strength of the former Shas chairman. The results, published today for the first time, reveal that Eli Yishai enjoys greater favor across the entire Haredi sector than the current Shas chairman, Aryeh Deri, and is perceived as a preferred leader compared to the current establishment.

Among the modern Haredi public, Yishai surprises with support exceeding 70%. While both parties are maintaining ambiguity regarding the outcome of the talks, the sequence of meetings and the data on the table indicate that this move is being seriously considered, potentially placing Shas at risk of falling near the electoral threshold.