SHAS PARTY LEADER ARIEH DERI IN TELEVISION ELECTION CAMPAIGN SPOT, 1999-05-12 (photo)

Ultra-orthodox Shas party leader and Knesset (Parliament) member Arieh Deri as seen in a recent Shas party election campaign advertisement on television is shown wearing a traditional Moroccan robe and hat as taken from a television monitor May 12. Deri, convicted in a corruption trial in March, leads the Shas party which currently is the third largest faction in the Israeli Knesset with 10 seats. Today the Council of Torah Sages, which controls the Shas party of Jews of Middle Eastern or North African descent, threw their political weigh and support behind Benjamin Netanyahu in his bid to remain Prime Minister in the general elections to be held May 17. The endorsement seems unlikely to give Netanyahu a boost as most religious Jews are already expected to vote for Netanyahu. JWH/CLH/