Shas party members actually preferred the leadership of former party leader MK Eli Yishai, far over current party leader MK Aryeh Deri, a poll by the "Panels" organization has revealed today on the Knesset Channel.
56% of Shas supporters answered that MK Eli Yishai needs to be reinstated as the Shas party leader. Only 32% preferred the current leading MK, Aryeh Deri.
Due to the loss of Deri-endorsed mayoral candidate Moshe Leon in the Jerusalem municipal elections, 42% of Shas supporters believe that Deri should resign and that Yishai take the post, and 40% believe that Deri should afford Yishai greater respect.
42% of Shas supporters have also come to believe that Deri has become a liability for the party, and only 28% believe that negative statements regarding Deri are mistaken.
Other interesting statistics to emerge from the poll include projected results from the national elections if they were held today. The results: Likud Beitenu - 31 seats, Labor - 17 seats, Bayit HaYehudi (Jewish Home) - 17 seats, Yesh Atid - 12 seats, Shas under Deri leadership - 10 seats, United Torah Judaism - 7 seats, HaTnua - 4 seats, 6 seats to Arab parties and no seats at all to Kadima.