Shas Party Leader Deri Votes, Sets Coalition Demand on Draft Exemptions
Translated & summarized from Mignews by baba
Aryeh Deri, leader of the ultra-Orthodox Shas party, voted in Jerusalem and declared his party's condition for joining a coalition: passage of a law preserving military draft exemptions for yeshiva students. This issue remains a major point of disagreement between Haredi parties and other political forces in Israel. The election saw 7.3 million citizens eligible to vote, with Prime Minister Netanyahu issuing a warning to Iran.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Shas party leader Aryeh Deri conditioned coalition participation on maintaining Haredi draft exemptions.
- The issue of military conscription exemptions for yeshiva students is a key point of contention.
- United Torah Judaism has issued a similar demand regarding draft exemptions.
- Shas and United Torah Judaism agreed to mutual support before the elections.
- 7.3 million Israelis were eligible to vote in the Knesset elections.
- Prime Minister Netanyahu warned Iran against attempting to disrupt the elections.
Aryeh Deri, chairman of the ultra-Orthodox Shas party, cast his vote in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Har Nof during the Knesset elections. Deri previously stated that Shas would not join or support a future government unless legislation is passed to maintain broad military conscription exemptions for students of Haredi yeshivas. This condition makes Shas's participation in the next governing coalition contingent on resolving the issue of military service for students of religious institutions, a key point of contention between Haredi parties and other Israeli political forces.
Another major Haredi political party, United Torah Judaism, has put forth a similar demand. Ahead of the elections, the two parties agreed to mutual support and to provide additional votes for each other. The stance of both Shas and United Torah Judaism could significantly influence coalition formation negotiations and the terms of their involvement in the government.
On election day, 7.3 million Israeli citizens were eligible to vote. Prime Minister Netanyahu gave an exclusive interview the day before the elections and also threatened Iran with a response if it attempted to disrupt the Israeli elections.
