Milkman Orders Shas Out of Coalition

A delegation of prominent rabbis including the Rabbi of Jerusalem's Old City, Rabbi Avigdor Nibenzal, the Rabbi of Rehovot, Simcha Hacohen Cook and the rabbi of the Temple Institute, Rabbi Israel Ariel, held a meeting last week with Rabbi Chaim Cohen, also known as the " Milkman". Rabbi Chaim Cohen is considered one of most respected rabbis in the haredi sector. The rabbis arrived at Rav Cohen's house in Tel Aviv in order to get his opinion on Shas staying in the coalition.

According to a source from the ultra-orthodox community who was present at the meeting, "the milkman" announced that Shas must withdraw from the government immediately.

"We are dealing with an issue of 'saving a life' in Jewish law. If Shas was not in the government every part of the Annapolis peace conference process and the discussions surrounding it about concessions on Jerusalem would not have happened," he told the assembled rabbis.

Following the meeting with the renowned rabbi, the Jewish leaders decided to make an appointment to sit down with spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef Shlita tonight in order to request that he instruct the religious party to quit the coalition because of its participation in the Annapolis peace summit.

Rav Yosef Shlita sought to put the rabbis at ease and told them that "if there is a decision to split Jerusalem, I will instruct Shas to withdraw from the coalition".
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3476045,00.html