Watchdog Group Seeks to Disqualify Shas Knesset Candidate

The watchdog organization Atidim has petitioned the Central Elections Committee chairman to disqualify Amos Dror, a senior official in Haifa's Religious Council and the sixth-place candidate on the Shas party's Knesset list. The petition argues that Dror failed to resign from his public position 100 days before election day, a requirement Atidim asserts is mandated by law for statutory bodies.

Atidim contends that Dror holds the highest position within the Religious Council, a statutory body, and that his continued service violates regulations. Concurrently, the organization has urged the legal advisor for the Ministry of Religious Services to suspend Dror and place him on unpaid leave, citing restrictions on his public service and election campaigning activities following his candidacy.

Rabbi Shaul Farber, chairman and founder of Atidim, criticized Dror's candidacy, stating that religious services in Israel belong to the public, not any political faction. He expressed concern that when state services become a political springboard, public trust in religious institutions erodes. Attorney Yair Mavorach Shag from Atidim's legal department added that Dror cannot simultaneously manage state religious services and campaign for Shas, emphasizing that early resignation rules prevent the conflation of public office and political ambition.

The Central Elections Committee will now review Atidim's claims to determine Dror's eligibility to run in the Knesset elections.