Aryeh Deri
Aryeh DeriYonatan Sindel/Flash90

Interior Minister Aryeh Deri (Shas) on Tuesday participated in the first meeting of the Elections Committee for the 24th Knesset.

"This is supposed to be a celebratory meeting, which will end off with a celebration of democracy, and the system of voting for the Knesset," Deri said.

"The coronavirus reminded us that everyone is equal. We are going through a very difficult crisis, health-wise and financially. Anyone familiar with the statistics is having a hard time falling asleep at night. The statistics are very harsh. We succeeded in getting through the first wave, because we enforced a lockdown."

He added, "We cannot hold fourth elections right now. We are absolutely forbidden from doing so. History will not forgive us for it if we dare to call elections during this serious crisis. We must work together. They will not forgive us if we call elections during such a serious crisis, with hundreds of thousands unemployed."

"I call on myself, the Prime Minister, the Alternate Prime Minister, and all of us: We must handle only the health and economic crisis. Only that. Because otherwise our children, grandchildren, and the entire public will not forgive us."