Shas Party Accused of Using Public Funds for Election Campaign

Members of the Shas party, including MK Michael Malchieli and Yaffa Deri, wife of party leader Aryeh Deri, recently spoke at a professional development seminar for mikveh attendants organized by the Jerusalem Religious Council. The list of speakers has raised suspicions that the Shas party, which no longer holds the Ministry of Religious Services portfolio, exploited the event for election campaign purposes.

Following a legal inquiry, the Jerusalem Religious Council removed recordings of the event. The Ministry for Religious Services stated that the seminar was a professional event and no calls to vote were made. "Out of an abundance of caution, and a desire to prevent the appearance of impropriety during this sensitive period, the Director General for Religious Services instructed the removal of the publications and video that were distributed through the Religious Council's digital channels," the ministry said in response.