Shas Party to Recommend Netanyahu for Government Formation

The Council of Torah Sages of the Shas party has decided to recommend Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the President for the formation of the next government. This decision, made on Tuesday, follows Netanyahu's explicit commitment to regulate the deferment status for yeshiva students.

According to the announcement, the resolution was made directly after Netanyahu's clear and uncompromising statement, in which he pledged to ensure the legal and statutory status of Torah scholars and married students (avreichim) within the new coalition. The decision came after consultations held by Shas Knesset members Michael Malchieli and Yinon Azulai with Rabbi Moshe Maya, the elder of the Council of Torah Sages, and other council members.

Alongside the official recommendation, Shas launched a sharp attack against the opposition bloc and left-wing parties, criticizing the public discourse on the issue of equal burden and the draft law. The party stated that the "hypocrisy of the left-wing parties is crying out to the heavens," accusing them of an unprecedented campaign of defamation and persecution against the Haredi sector and Torah scholars.

Prime Minister Netanyahu also issued a statement, criticizing the "change bloc" for hypocrisy regarding the draft of Haredim. He asserted that only the Likud and the right-wing bloc would act to regulate the status of Torah scholars, enabling them to continue their studies legally. Netanyahu emphasized his commitment to finding a real solution through agreement and cooperation with Haredi leaders.

Shas's announcement is considered a critical step in the recommendation process for the President and clearly outlines the minimum requirements for Shas and United Torah Judaism in coalition negotiations. Netanyahu's commitment to the yeshiva students' status secures the support of the Haredi parties, totaling at least 60 seats, and signals that this issue will be a top priority for the incoming government.

The announcement comes amid a complex political landscape following the election results, with Netanyahu's bloc holding 53 seats and the opposing bloc holding 48. The Haredi parties are central to the efforts of both blocs to gain their support. Earlier in the week, Netanyahu sent a message of unequivocal support to Shas Chairman Aryeh Deri, following the party's electoral performance.

Rabbi Moshe Maya has strongly denied recent rumors about potential coalition talks with Gadi Eisenkot, stating that no one had discussed such matters with him.