As was first reported in Israel Hayom, former Shas Chairman Eli Yishai will not accept the appointment made by the party's Council of Torah Sages to head the movement's Torah study institutions. Yishai was offered the position a week and a half ago by Shas spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef. MK Aryeh Deri was selected to replace Yishai at the helm of the political party. On Monday Yishai made it official, telling Yosef that he was not interested in the position. Yishai said he made his decision following consultations with the Knessets Legal Adviser Eyal Yinon, who told him that simultaneously serving as a member of Knesset and in the new position would constitute a criminal offense. Following a short vacation, Yishai will continue serving as a member of Knesset for the Shas party. Meanwhile, his associates were exploring the option of him running to be the next mayor of Jerusalem -- an option that Yishai has not yet rejected.
