Shas Suffers Major Electoral Blow, Losing Up to 100,000 Votes
Translated & summarized from Srugim by baba
The Shas party has suffered a significant electoral defeat, losing up to 100,000 votes and dropping from eleven to potentially six or seven Knesset seats. This decline is attributed to late campaign efforts and controversial statements by Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, which alienated traditionalist voters. Despite the setback, party leader Arie Deri's position remains secure due to his strong control over the party's internal structure.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Shas lost up to 100,000 votes, dropping from 11 to potentially 6 or 7 Knesset seats.
- Late campaign efforts and controversial statements by Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef alienated voters.
- Traditionalist voters, who have family members in the IDF, were particularly affected.
- Party leader Arie Deri's position remains secure despite the electoral losses.
- Shas's core constituencies of Sephardic Haredim and traditionalist Israelis were not effectively reached.
The Shas party has experienced a significant electoral setback, dropping from eleven to potentially six or seven Knesset seats, according to partial results. This decline is attributed not just to a flawed campaign but to years of accumulated decisions. Despite the loss, party leader Arie Deri's position within Shas remains stable.
The party's failure to retain an estimated 100,000 votes stems from its inability to effectively connect with its two core constituencies: Sephardic Haredim and traditionalist Israelis. Deri's attempts to re-engage these groups were implemented too late, exacerbating the divide between them.
A key factor was the delayed elevation of Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, son of the late spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, to a prominent role in the party's campaign. While Rabbi Yosef is seen by many as his father's successor, Deri had previously kept him on the political sidelines. His sudden prominence two months before the election was perceived by some in the Haredi public as a reactive measure to stem voter attrition, rather than a genuine recognition of his leadership.
Furthermore, Rabbi Yosef's past controversial statements regarding the IDF draft and his critical remarks about the state and Independence Day alienated the traditionalist voters. This segment of Shas's base, while respecting religious figures and maintaining Jewish identity, also includes individuals serving in the military and their families. For them, these pronouncements were not abstract theological debates but hit close to home, potentially driving them to parties like Likud, Otzma Yehudit, and Yahadut HaTorah.
The party also belatedly highlighted its connection to the military and reservists, a demographic more common in Shas than in other Haredi parties like Yahadut HaTorah. This emphasis on soldiers returning home for Shabbat and families with both Torah scholars and soldiers appeared only shortly before the election, seemingly driven by polling data rather than a long-standing commitment.
Despite the electoral losses, Deri's leadership is not threatened due to his firm control over the party's mechanisms and the absence of any significant internal opposition or clear successor. Any change at the top would likely depend on Deri's own decision to step down, a scenario that does not appear imminent. The party lost votes, but Deri retained control.
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