Shas Leader Aryeh Deri Blocks Party Funding Law Without Opposition Support

In a dramatic session of the Knesset just before its term ends, Shas chairman Aryeh Deri and all his party members abruptly left the plenum on Thursday evening. This followed information that the opposition parties would not support the bill to increase party funding ahead of the upcoming elections. The legislation requires a majority of 61 Knesset members to pass. Deri declared that Shas's backing of the bill was conditional on opposition parties also voting in favor.

Deri stated in conversations within the Knesset that Shas does not need the additional funds, emphasizing that his party is financially stable and debt-free. He accused the opposition of wanting the law more than Shas but expecting Shas to bear the political cost of passing it. According to Shas, the opposition aims to benefit from the increased funding without publicly supporting the bill. Consequently, Deri decided not to provide the necessary votes for the law's approval unless broader consensus is reached.

At this point, it remains uncertain whether the bill will secure the required 61 votes before the end of the 25th Knesset and the upcoming elections.