Rabbi Ovadia Yosef's youngest son, Rabbi Moshe Yosef, refused to sign a letter of support for the Shas party under Aryeh Deri, before sentences attacking former Shas chairman Eli Yishai were removed from it, reported Channel 2's news website Mako Wednesday.
According to the report, Deri's men put pressure on Rabbi Moshe Yosef to sign a letter that said his father suffered great sorrow because of “those who leave the camp and bring about the weakening of religion and the Torah world” – an obvious reference to Yishai, who left Shas to establish Yachad-Ha'am Itanu.
The original letter also stated that it is “clear to us” that the late Rabbi Ovadia is not happy – or would not be happy – with the use of his picture for any purpose but to strengthen Shas.
These sentences were removed before Rabbi Moshe Yosef signed the letter.
An earlier letter penned by Rabbi David Yosef, another son of Rabbi Ovadia ztz”l, used words like “shame” and “disgrace” to describe Yishai's deeds. Rabbi David Yosef intended the letter to be signed by all of his brothers, as well as the husbands of his sisters, but Rabbi Moshe Yosef's refusal torpedoed this initiative, too, said Mako.