Shas Party Candidate Faces Challenge Over Public Service Role

The "Atid" organization has filed a dramatic petition with the Central Elections Committee demanding the disqualification of Amos Dror, who is ranked sixth on the Shas party's Knesset list. The petition alleges that Dror continued to serve as the supervisor of the Haifa Religious Council without observing the mandatory legal cooling-off period required for public officials before running for office.

According to Israeli law, public employees in the top four tiers must resign at least 100 days before an election. The petition claims Dror failed to meet this requirement, continuing to exercise his full authority as supervisor of the religious council, a senior public and executive position. "Atid" has also requested the legal advisor of the Ministry of Religious Services to immediately suspend Dror or place him on unpaid leave.

Rabbi Shaul Farber, chairman and founder of "Atid," strongly criticized the situation, stating, "Religious services in Israel belong to the entire public, not to any party mechanism. When a system meant to provide state, sensitive, and honest service to every citizen becomes a political springboard, public trust in religious institutions collapses." Attorney Yair Mavorah from the organization's legal department added, "Amos Dror cannot have it both ways: managing religious services in the morning on behalf of the state, and garnering votes for Shas in the evening. The distorted norm where a minister's political appointment goes straight to his Knesset list with zero cooling-off days is a slap in the face to public service."

Dror, a retired Lieutenant Colonel, was placed sixth on the Shas list as a representative of military figures. The petition raises significant legal questions regarding the enforcement of election laws and the potential conflict of interest between holding public office and political candidacy. The committee's decision on the petition is expected to impact Shas's final list for the upcoming elections.