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

Shas is currently grappling with a significant internal dispute between party chairman Aryeh Deri and Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, who demands to lead the party's Council of Torah Sages. Deri refuses this demand, proposing a compromise that Rabbi Yosef finds insufficient. The disagreement centers on Rabbi Yosef's insistence that the party fully submit to the Council and explicitly follow his leadership, while Deri has appointed mediators, including former minister Ariel Atias and his brother Momo Deri, to negotiate a resolution.

The conflict extends beyond titles to fundamental political disagreements, notably Rabbi Yosef's praise of Gadi Eizenkot and openness to cooperating with him if he supports legislation exempting ultra-Orthodox men from military service. This stance drew criticism from Deri and Shas officials, who fear alienating voters. Rabbi Yosef, however, stood firm, accusing the party of contradicting rabbinic authority.

Tensions have been escalating for some time, with Rabbi Yosef previously criticizing Deri's handling of the conscription exemption law and urging him to leave the government and call new elections. He also expressed skepticism about Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's willingness to approve the exemption law.

The dispute arises amid Shas's struggle to launch its election campaign, facing declining support among traditional and ultra-Orthodox voters and external pressure from former Shas leader Eli Yishai, who is considering a political comeback with a new party targeting disaffected voters. The party awaits Rabbi Yosef's attendance at tomorrow's campaign conference, viewing his presence or absence as a key indicator of whether reconciliation efforts have succeeded or the crisis persists.