Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, the spiritual leader of Sephardic-hareidi party Shas, announced the party's Knesset list Sunday. Unlike other parties in which the placement of candidates involves primaries and often results in acrimony and litigation, the process in Shas is a simple one: Rabbi Ovadia decides, period.
Rabbi Ovadia convened the party's 12 Knesset members at his home in Jerusalem Sunday morning and announced the new Knesset list, which is very similar to the old one, as far as the first 12 slots are concerned. The only meaningful changes are the advancement of Communications Minister Ariel Atias to the second slot and of faction whip Yaakov Mergi to the sixth slot.
Rabbi Refael Cohen of Tzfat (Safed) is in the 13th slot, and is followed by IDF disabled veteran Avi Biton, Sderot Deputy Mayor Rabbi Oren Malka, Rafi Malka, David Talker, Gershon Levy, David Gabbai and Pinchas Tzabari in 20th place.
The MKs received the sage's blessing after signing forms in which they committed themselves to accept his positions on all political matters. Shas's candidates sign these forms whenever elections are held.