Shas Party Leader Aryeh Deri Resigns Knesset Seat

Aryeh Deri, the leader of the ultra-Orthodox Shas party, has officially relinquished his seat in the 26th Knesset, opting to focus on leading the movement and engaging directly with citizens on the ground. Deri announced his decision to forgo his parliamentary mandate, stating he will retain his position as party chairman and continue to oversee the faction's work from outside the Knesset. His departure, along with that of faction head Moshe Abutbul and candidate Dror Amos, makes way for new representatives Uriel Boso and Yossi Taieb, signaling a significant renewal within the Sephardic religious sector's parliamentary representation.

Deri explained that his decision was made with the direct blessing of the party's supreme spiritual authority, the Council of Torah Sages, who approved his intention to yield his seats to a new generation of party figures. The Shas leader plans extensive tours across the country to connect personally with local residents, activists, and municipal officials. Previously, the Council of Torah Sages issued a directive for Deri to remain at the helm of the movement, overriding his initial thoughts of stepping down after the election results. Deri confirmed his full agreement with his spiritual mentors and has already begun active organizational work outside parliamentary walls, vowing to continue strengthening Torah study and preserving the country's Jewish identity.