Shas Faces Electoral Challenge Amid Sharp Decline in Support

The Shas party is confronting a significant electoral challenge, with post-election data revealing a sharp decline in its support across various cities compared to its peak over three decades ago. According to an analysis by Knesset correspondent Aharon Rabinovich, Shas achieved its highest support rate in 1992, followed by a considerable retreat in several cities.

The data highlights the depth of the challenge for the party, which was founded to represent the Sephardic public and has aimed to expand its political and public influence. A notable disparity exists between its performance in Haredi centers, where it largely maintains its strength, and in peripheral cities, which historically formed a substantial part of its electoral base, showing a more profound erosion.

Rabinovich's analysis, shared on social media platform X, detailed the percentage drops in specific cities. In Dimona, support fell by 48.5%; Nativot, 46.3%; Ofakim, 45%; Sderot, 42.1%; and Ashkelon, 39.9%. Other cities saw declines including Netanya (39%), Ashdod (37.2%), and Holon (29.6%). Even in cities with Haredi populations, the decrease was less severe in some cases: Tzfat (21.5%), Jerusalem (15.34%), and Tiberias (9.1%).

This trend presents Shas with a critical task: to address the erosion of its electoral power in cities where it once held significant sway. The data also underscores the difference between the decline in the periphery and the more moderate decrease in some Haredi communities. It is estimated that Prime Minister Netanyahu's "drinking campaign" campaign significantly harmed the party, alongside voters who defected to a related Ashkenazi party.