Shas Party Needs Change, Not Rehabilitation, After Election Loss
Translated & summarized from Maariv by baba
The Shas party needs to apologize to its traditional Sephardic voters who have been alienated since the October 7th attacks, according to author Roy Lachmanovitch. He argues that the party's traditional base felt neglected during the "Swords of Iron" war and draft law debates. Lachmanovitch warns that a repeat of the 2026 campaign strategy in 2027 will lead to worse results for Shas.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Shas must apologize to traditional Sephardic voters alienated since October 7th to regain influence.
- Author Roy Lachmanovitch argues Shas's base felt neglected after the October 7th attacks.
- The traditional Mizrahi public bore heavy costs and has not recovered since October 7th.
- A repeat of the 2026 campaign strategy in 2027 will lead to worse results for Shas.
- Shas should emphasize empathy and human connection in its future campaigns.
The Shas party must acknowledge its mistakes and apologize to its traditional, non-haredi Sephardic voters who have drifted away, particularly since the October 7th Hamas attacks, if it wishes to regain political influence. Author Roy Lachmanovitch argues that the party's traditional base, comprising Sephardic Torah scholars and the broader traditional Mizrahi public, has felt alienated by the party's stance following the October 7th disaster and the subsequent "Swords of Iron" war, as well as the controversy surrounding the draft law.
Lachmanovitch recounts an anecdote illustrating the late spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef's deep connection to Jewish law and Israeli tradition, highlighting his view that "fratricidal war is worse than desecrating the Sabbath." This principle, he suggests, was historically instrumental in Shas's ability to bridge the gap between its disparate voter bases.
However, the events of October 7th proved too divisive for the traditional Mizrahi public, who bore significant costs and whose lives have not returned to normal. While Shas's campaign attempted to bridge this dissonance, the author contends that the trauma of October 7th was too profound. He warns that if Shas's 2027 campaign mirrors its 2026 approach, its electoral results will be even worse.
To recover, Lachmanovitch advises Shas to return to its traditional voters, express remorse, and demonstrate empathy for their experiences since the October 7th disaster. The campaign should emphasize human connection and feature respected figures identified with Israeli tradition. Such an approach could also appeal to voters of the haredi public and those considering voting for integrated haredi parties.
