Senior Strategic Advisor Israel Bakhar Returns to Advise Shas Leader Aryeh Deri

Israel Bakhar, one of Israel's top political campaign strategists who previously helped Shas secure 11 Knesset seats, is set to rejoin the party as a strategic advisor for the upcoming elections, according to reports from HaMatzuda. Bakhar's return aims to bolster Shas's campaign efforts under the leadership of Aryeh Deri.

This development follows a recent setback for Deri, as the Israeli Supreme Court issued an injunction against a law that freezes the detention of draft dodgers. The court cited longstanding rulings regarding the conscription of yeshiva students and expressed concerns about the selective suspension of enforcement measures for certain population groups. The injunction requires the government to justify why the Security Service Law should not be repealed.

The legal challenge highlights ongoing tensions surrounding military conscription policies affecting ultra-Orthodox communities, a key constituency for Shas. The party's strategic moves, including Bakhar's advisory role, come amid these contentious debates and ahead of the next election cycle.