While other parties are working on unification, possibly Likud and Habayit Hayehudi, already Hatnua and Labor, and possibly the Arab parties, the Haredi parties are busy splitting.

There has been floated an idea, a suggestion, that Shas and UTJ should merge. They would have to come up with some sort of order, as UTJ is made up of multiple factions, and each will wants its fair representation. That would not be an easy task. It is not two parties - it is really three parties (Shas, Degel and Agudah), and even then it is many factions as Agudah is made up of various hassidic groups, each of which gets its fair share.

Personally, I don't think it is possible, let alone worth it. If they would unify, I think many sefardim would go running and not vote Shas. The purpose of Shas is to promote its unique identity as a sefardi party, to renew the sefardic glory to what it once was. If they merge with the ashkenazim, any non-haredi sefardi who is still considering Shas no longer will. And on the other side, many ashkenazi voters of UTJ might very well refuse to vote for sefardim. It might very well depend on who takes the #1 spot in such a unified party. But I don't see it happening, so deciding whether or not it is worthwhile is a moot point.

The problem, though, is that unification is right now just an idea. The parties, both UTJ and Shas, seem to be more focused on infighting and division rather than unification. UTJ has its problems with the "yerushalmi" faction threatening to make their own party, along with the less problematic women. Shas has the consistent fighting between Eli Yishai and Aryeh Deri.

While they keep announcing peace and quiet, fighting and noise keeps erupting

Just the other day, Deri announced peace. They had come to a deal. Yishai would get the number 2 slot.

Shortly after (and I am not looking to blame anyone and might be leaving some issues out), Yishai announced he wants freedom to vote on some issues and not be forced to vote according to party lines. Shortly after, Deri announced that he insists Yishai submit a letter of resignation that will be activated at some future time if Yishai should be found to be working against Deri or against party interests.

Obviously that is a ridiculous idea. Yishai would be an idiot to submit such a letter. It leaves everything entirely at the whim of Aryeh Deri. One day Deri can say Yishai worked against him and has therefore resigned.

This fighting is insidious. It won't go away, the bad feelings will always be there. Deri will always be suspicious of Yishai making moves to undermine him, and Yishai will always be suspicious of Deri that anything he does is to hurt Yiishai and his people and push them out.

I think Shas would be better off if they just split ways now. Instead of seeing it as a threat, Deri and Yishai should come to terms with it and decide it is best, for both of them and for the party, to just each go their own way. Deri will continue with Shas, and Yishai will join another party or found one. Once they move on and get past the fighting, the party will be able to focus on what it needs to do to win its voters back.