Shas Party Suffers Major Blow in Israeli Elections, Losing Over 100,000 Voters
Translated & summarized from i24NEWS Arabic by baba
The Shas party, led by Aryeh Deri, lost at least four Knesset seats and over 100,000 votes in the recent Israeli elections, its lowest total since 2019. Support declined significantly in both Haredi and traditional communities, impacting strongholds like Bnei Brak and Netivot. The party is expected to be outside the next government coalition, and calls for Deri's resignation have emerged.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Shas party lost at least four Knesset seats and over 100,000 votes, its lowest total since 2019.
- Support for Shas declined significantly in traditional Haredi strongholds like Bnei Brak and Elad.
- The party also saw reduced support in traditional public strongholds such as Sderot and Netivot.
- Shas is expected to be excluded from the upcoming government coalition.
- Calls for the resignation of party leader Aryeh Deri have surfaced within the Haredi community.
The Shas party, led by Aryeh Deri, has experienced a significant electoral setback, losing at least four Knesset seats and over 100,000 votes compared to the previous election. The party's vote count dropped from 392,964 in 2022 to 257,898 in the recent election, marking its lowest total since 2019. This decline is evident even in traditional Haredi strongholds, with notable decreases in support in Bnei Brak, Elad, Jerusalem, Beitar Illit, and Brachot. Support also waned in areas considered strongholds of the traditional public, such as Sderot, Netivot, and Ofakim.
This electoral performance means Shas is likely to be outside the anticipated government coalition. The party, which held 11 seats in the previous Knesset, now faces a significant exodus of voters from both the traditional and Haredi communities. The results have led to calls within the Haredi street for Deri's resignation.
In contrast, United Torah Judaism, under new leadership, may emerge as the largest party within the Haredi bloc, although its expected increase in votes was tempered by natural population growth. With the official results now being finalized, Deri is expected to address the reasons for the party's collapse and outline a plan for its future.
The unusual lack of celebration at Shas headquarters following the initial results, with Deri and party activists absent, underscores the severity of the situation.
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