Journalist Lists Eight Errors Leading to Shas's Election Failure

Journalist Michael Shemesh has identified eight key errors he believes led to the Shas party's failure in the 2026 Knesset elections. Shemesh sharply criticized party chairman Aryeh Deri and his associates, accusing the party's leadership of being out of touch with reality, disrespecting voters, and losing its way.

Shemesh contends that Deri refuses to acknowledge the election results or take responsibility for the party's situation. He described Deri as being surrounded by people who tell him he is right rather than the truth, suggesting a "special news channel" run by the party's PR team feeds him "filtered news" and a "fake reality." Shemesh urged Deri to "get out of the parallel universe."

A significant portion of the criticism targets Shas's internal operations and the prevalence of personal loyalty over professionalism. Shemesh argued that the party has become a mechanism for distributing positions to cronies, advocating for a model that rewards professionalism based on abilities and performance.

Shemesh also criticized the leadership's treatment of its voter base, stating that instead of serving voters' needs, senior party members have made statements and taken actions that harmed them. He specifically mentioned the phrase "throw the draft orders into the toilet" as an example of such damaging rhetoric.

Furthermore, Shemesh pointed to Shas's stance on the Haredi public seeking integration into Israeli society. He argued that the party should have led the establishment of suitable educational frameworks and integration initiatives, rather than opposing them. He also stated that Shas has distanced itself from other constituencies it should represent, including IDF soldiers, the traditional public, families, and Torah scholars.

Shemesh concluded that Shas has lost its original identity and strayed from its core values, which he believes should include Torah, tradition, and love for the army and the state, rather than being an "extreme branch of United Torah Judaism." He stressed that any necessary change must begin with a willingness to hear criticism.