Shas Urges Patience for Final Results, United Torah Judaism Claims Success
Translated & summarized from Haaretz by baba
Shas is downplaying initial exit poll results, with party chairman Arie Deri calling for patience until final results are tallied, while United Torah Judaism claims significant success and an increase in votes. UTJ anticipates around 320,000 votes, exceeding expectations despite internal challenges and new rival parties. Both parties are urging supporters to wait for the official election outcomes.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Shas headquarters were deserted post-exit polls, with activists expressing low morale.
- Shas chairman Arie Deri called for waiting for final results due to poll discrepancies.
- United Torah Judaism claims significant vote increase and expects around 320,000 votes.
- UTJ sees its performance as a success despite internal party rifts and new rivals.
- Both Shas and UTJ attribute potential success to public adherence to their leadership.
Following the release of exit poll results, the Shas party headquarters in Jerusalem's Givat Shaul neighborhood appeared deserted, a stark contrast to previous election nights. A lone activist expressed a somber mood, citing a lack of energy and uncertainty about holding a celebration. Officially, Shas is attempting to project a victory, highlighting exit poll predictions of eight to nine seats, higher than the six seats some polls indicated. The party also blames high voter turnout and media campaigns for potentially lower results, believing the final count will be more favorable. However, party chairman Arie Deri acknowledged the discrepancies in the polls, stating the need to await the final results.
In contrast, United Torah Judaism (UTJ) expressed satisfaction with the exit polls. A party source told Haaretz that internal data suggests a significant increase in votes, potentially securing their seventh seat despite unusual turnout. UTJ anticipates around 320,000 votes, up from approximately 285,000 in the previous election, exceeding their pre-election expectations. This is considered a major achievement given recent internal divisions and the emergence of new ultra-Orthodox parties that aimed to erode their voter base.
The UTJ source noted an "amazing mobilization" from their communities, countering predictions of voter apathy. The party issued a statement attributing their success to the public adhering to the "greats of Israel" and uniting for the sake of Torah study and maintaining a Haredi lifestyle in Israel. Similar to Shas, UTJ advised waiting for the final results, asserting they would confirm the public's adherence to their leadership.
