BICOM

Yesterday, former Shas chairman Arye Deri, speaking to interviewer Ilana Dayan on a panel at the Presidents Conference in Jerusalem, announced his intention to return to politics. He said: “In the State of Israel, one can make no contribution without political power, and I therefore decided to establish a movement. I’m coming back and I wish to use political power for the sake of unity and public responsibility.” Deri said, however, that his new movement will not be a sectoral party like Shas. “What was appropriate in 1984 is no longer relevant,” he said.

On the subject of negotiations with the Palestinians, the former Shas chairman said: “I’m obviously in favor of a peace process, but there is no black or white. The question is how many risks we’d be able and willing to assume,” he said. Deri added that his return is motivated first and foremost by his desire to bring the public together, “so that if we go into a peace process we’ll be united.”

The 52-year-old Deri served as interior minister and Knesset member since 1998, but in 1993 quit the government over corruption suspicions. In 1999 he was convicted of several offences, including receiving a bribe, fraud, and breach of trust.