Minister Aryeh Deri is a brilliant deflector.

Last night an explosive recording was publicized on Channel 2 after having been leaked. The recording was of a phone call between Deri and Rav Yaakov Cohen, son of Rav Shalom Cohen, the spiritual leader of Shas. In the phone call Deri speaks very disrespectfully about Rav Shlomo Amar, and also about other MKs in Shas. Headlines last night called this an earthquake in Shas, among other things.

In most other parties and organizations, something like this would have the chairman resigning by first light, or at least issuing an apology and clarification to the spurned parties. With Deri things go differently. By the time the morning arrives, all the headlines are discussing who leaked it and how will they find out, and should people be given the polygraph and what should be done to those who leaked it.

By morning what Deri said was already almost forgotten.