Shas Chairman Arie Deri Seeks Reasons for Party's Electoral Decline

Following a significant electoral defeat that halved its parliamentary seats, the Shas party, led by Chairman Arie Deri, is undertaking an internal review to understand the reasons behind its diminished support. Deri has tasked party representatives with preparing detailed reports analyzing regional election results and identifying the causes of the decline, emphasizing the need for candid assessments rather than attempts to downplay the failure.

The internal investigation aims to uncover whether the party's poor performance stems from campaign errors or deeper issues. Shas, historically known for its well-organized grassroots network, including a system of "ministers of tens" and "ministers of thousands" for voter mobilization, is now using this same structure to gather insights into its electoral setback.

Some internal assessments suggest the party has drifted too far from its traditional base and aligned too closely with more radical Haredi factions. One party source reportedly stated, "Haredi Shas has taken over the movement, while traditional Shas has simply disappeared." This source also criticized the timing of recent efforts to reconnect with the traditional electorate, suggesting that a few campaign videos were insufficient to counteract years of perceived alienation.