Yisrael Beiteinu Demands Shas Remove Controversial IDF Video by 11 AM

The Yisrael Beiteinu party sent a legal warning to Shas leader Aryeh Deri and the Shas party, demanding the removal of a campaign video titled "A Father's Life" by 11:00 AM on Sunday. The letter, delivered through attorney Uri Haberman, alleges that the video improperly uses images of IDF soldiers, creating the false impression that the Israeli military endorses Shas, which is prohibited by law.

The video, posted on Deri's X account, features IDF soldiers alongside political messages and claims that over 30,000 soldiers and reservists voted for Shas in the last elections, citing official data. Yisrael Beiteinu sharply criticized Shas, highlighting a contradiction between the video's message and Shas's policies. They pointed out that Shas has historically promoted legislation expanding exemptions from military service, and that Deri himself has expressed pride in family members who do not serve.

The letter states, "It is unacceptable to promote draft evasion at the expense of those serving, boast about non-serving family members, and then use IDF soldiers as a backdrop for election propaganda." Additionally, Yisrael Beiteinu claims the video violates election laws by displaying Shas's ballot letters before the permitted campaign period.

Yisrael Beiteinu demands immediate removal of the video and warns that failure to comply by the deadline will lead to further legal action.