Shas and United Torah Judaism Sign Surplus Vote Agreement Ahead of Elections

With the 26th Knesset elections approximately two weeks away, the Shas and United Torah Judaism parties have officially signed a surplus vote agreement. The pact aims to maximize their electoral power in the distribution of Knesset seats. Shas Chairman Aryeh Deri and United Torah Judaism Chairman Yaakov Asher emphasized that the agreement was made in accordance with the directives of "the wise elders of the generation."

Beyond the electoral strategy, the two parties committed to continued joint efforts to safeguard Torah scholarship, the status of yeshiva students, and the strengthening of religious educational institutions. The agreement formalizes a partnership that extends beyond election day, reflecting a shared intention to work together in the next Knesset on core issues affecting the Haredi public.

The agreement preserves cooperation between parties that represent distinct segments of the Haredi community: Shas primarily serves the Sephardic Haredi public, while United Torah Judaism encompasses Agudat Yisrael and Degel HaTorah, representing the main Ashkenazi Haredi streams. Despite differences in their voter bases, the parties share common ground on Haredi lifestyle issues and will maintain their separate political identities while cooperating electorally.

A surplus vote agreement allows two parties running in Knesset elections to collaborate in the seat allocation phase without merging into a single list. This arrangement can increase their chances of securing an additional mandate by being treated as a joint unit during the calculation of surplus votes, a critical factor in elections where every seat can influence the balance of power between blocs. The agreement is contingent on both parties passing the electoral threshold and does not guarantee an additional seat automatically, as it depends on the final results and the performance of other parties.