Shas loses second leader. Der’i quits Knesset

After his rival Ellie Yishai quit the ultra-religious Shas party to set up a new faction, Arye Der’I Tuesday stepped down as leader and then gave up his Knesset seat. He quit after TV Channel 2 aired a tape of private comments by the party’s late spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef some years ago, in which he ruled Der’i unfit to serve as party leader after being jailed for embezzlement. His resignation leaves Shas leaderless and seriously undermines its prospects in mid-campaign for the March 17 general election.