Shas Chairman Deri Delivers Cautious Written Message Amidst Exit Polls
Translated & summarized from JDN by baba
Shas Chairman Aryeh Deri issued a cautious written message to activists instead of a victory speech after exit polls showed a significant drop in the party's support. Deri thanked voters and party workers, urging them to await the final results, which he believes will be "very good." The move has fueled speculation about Shas's future political maneuvering, particularly regarding potential coalition negotiations.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Shas Chairman Aryeh Deri issued a written message instead of a speech on election night.
- Exit polls indicated a significant decrease in Shas's electoral strength.
- Deri urged supporters to wait for the final vote count before making declarations.
- His message did not include a commitment to supporting Benjamin Netanyahu's government.
- The party awaits official results to determine its strength in the next Knesset.
The Shas movement's headquarters maintained an unusual silence on election night as exit polls were released. An event hall prepared for party activists remained closed, and the movement's chairman, Rabbi Aryeh Deri, did not deliver a public speech. Instead, he issued a written message to activists.
This development comes in the wake of exit poll results indicating a significant decrease in Shas's electoral strength compared to previous elections. The party leadership appears to be awaiting the final vote count before making public statements, choosing caution over immediate declarations.
Deri's written message thanked God and hundreds of thousands of Israeli voters from all sectors for choosing "the path of faith" and voting for Shas. He also expressed gratitude to the Council of Torah Sages, rabbis, community leaders, and thousands of dedicated activists for their efforts, describing their work as being against an "unprecedented machine of hate."
Addressing the exit poll results, Deri urged patience for the official count, stating, "The exit poll results show large discrepancies, so we must wait for the true results." He expressed confidence in Shas's internal data, asserting that the party would achieve a "very good result" reflecting the extensive work done on the ground.
The decision to forgo a public address and rally has sparked political speculation. Beyond the disappointing poll numbers, Deri's message notably omitted any commitment to supporting Benjamin Netanyahu or forming a government under his leadership. Analysts are debating whether this reflects mere caution due to the poll results or a strategic move to maintain flexibility in upcoming coalition negotiations.
