Shas Faces Internal Crisis as Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef Rejects Aryeh Deri’s Compromise

The Shas party is currently embroiled in a significant internal dispute between its chairman, Aryeh Deri, and Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, who demands to lead the party's Council of Torah Sages. Deri refuses this demand, offering a compromise that Rabbi Yosef finds insufficient. The proposed agreement would affirm that Shas follows the path of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, with Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef as his successor, and allow him to lead major party events. However, Rabbi Yosef insists on full party subordination to the Council and a clearer declaration that Shas follows his leadership.

This conflict extends beyond titles to fundamental political disagreements, notably over the party's stance on the exemption from military service law for ultra-Orthodox Jews. Rabbi Yosef praised former IDF Chief Gadi Eizenkot and suggested Shas might cooperate with him if he supports the exemption law, a position that Deri and his circle quickly opposed. Rabbi Yosef criticized their rejection, while Deri warned that such statements could alienate voters. The tension reflects deeper dissatisfaction with Deri’s leadership and the party’s political direction.

Rabbi Yosef has also publicly criticized Deri’s handling of the exemption law and urged him to leave the government and call early elections, asserting that his late father, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, would have demanded the same. He expressed skepticism about Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approving the exemption law and advocated for no compromises.

The dispute comes at a sensitive time as Shas struggles to launch its election campaign amid declining poll numbers and internal divisions between traditional voters and the ultra-Orthodox community. Former Shas leader Eli Yishai is reportedly considering a political comeback with a new party targeting disaffected Shas voters, adding external pressure.

The first test of reconciliation will be tomorrow’s Shas campaign conference, where the party awaits Rabbi Yosef’s attendance as a sign of possible resolution or ongoing conflict.