Shas chairman Aryeh Deri stated Sunday morning that he had not received a conclusive offer from Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu regarding the Interior Ministry, and as such, is considering his next steps.
"Until now I have not received a firm offer from Prime Minister Netanyahu for a central portfolio," Deri told haredi radio station Kol Hai.
"If I see that Shas won't receive something serious, we will look for other options," Deri added, in what could be a veiled threat to abandon a Netanyahu-led government for the Left and the Zionist Union.
Deri also referred to the feud between Shas and Jewish Home for the Religious Affairs Ministry. "The religious affairs portfolio can only be controlled by Shas without the interference of Jewish Home," he stressed.
With regard to reports that Jewish Home chairman Naftali Bennett had requested the Education Ministry, Deri responded that he was not afraid of Bennett being in control of the education budget for haredim.
"You cannot discriminate against us when we're in the coalition," Deri argued. "I expect fair conduct with us just as we will conduct ourselves decently with Jewish Home [when we control] the Religious Affairs Ministry."