Yaffa Deri, the wife of Shas chairman Aryeh Deri, said on Wednesday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is not motivated by political considerations when he mulls a deal for the release of hostages.
"I don't accept these claims," she said in an interview with the haredi radio station Kol Barama in response to the question of whether Netanyahu is preventing a hostage release deal for political reasons.
"They have a great responsibility and I do not envy them and do not suggest to anyone to want to be in their shoes in making these fateful decisions," added Deri.
Deri commented on the left-wing protests against Netanyahu and the government as well as on the discourse in the media against the Prime Minister. "We see what is happening outside, it is clear that there are political parties who are inflaming the discourse, there are many interests against Netanyahu, that's clear."
She added that these protests harm the ability to bring back the hostages and weaken Israel in the international arena. "It's a mistake because we are losing a lot, the families of the hostages are losing a lot. They understand that incitement and division are not in their interest and they are calling for them not to be represented in this way."
"Salvation will not come from all these divisions. If we were together - Hamas would also be afraid and the whole world would be silent, even Biden and the entire US, even those who don't like us would see that we are united – and we would win. But when they see what is happening with us?"
In response to a question about the public confrontation with the US, Deri claimed that it originated from the lack of unity in the nation. "There is no doubt. They see the division within us, hear the voices, and they live what is happening here within us."
"And I wonder how after what happened to us - how do we continue? It's not a very large public, it's a relative minority [causing the split in the nation], but it's a vocal and active minority and it's not easy. Many families of hostages that I'm in contact with are in pain and cry out about this situation."
On a possible hostage release deal, she said that "there is a priority to bring everyone home together, even at difficult prices" but noted that she is not the address for that and conceded that not everything is always possible.