Shas Party Reconciliation Begins Amid Controversy Over Military Draft Protests

About two months before the elections, the Shas party is navigating a complex political landscape following a significant reconciliation between party chairman Aryeh Deri and Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef. This rapprochement aims to end a prolonged period of tension within the party's leadership and reassure its voter base that internal disputes are resolved. The reconciliation occurred against the backdrop of renewed criticism over the military draft law affecting ultra-Orthodox youth, which has sparked protests and political challenges for established Haredi parties like Shas.

The reconciliation was marked by intense behind-the-scenes negotiations, including efforts by Deri's brother, Momo Deri, to bridge gaps. Rabbi Yosef received public recognition as the spiritual heir of his father, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, and was affirmed as the guiding religious authority for Shas representatives on key issues. Meanwhile, Rabbi Moshe Maya, a senior member of the party's Council of Torah Sages, explicitly endorsed Deri's political leadership and mission.

Despite this unity at the top, the core dispute over the conscription of yeshiva students remains unresolved. Rabbi Yosef has taken a firm stance against drafting these students, and Shas plans to make securing their exemption a central demand in coalition negotiations, with rabbinic leadership closely involved in related decisions. Shortly after the reconciliation, Rabbi Yosef publicly supported Deri at a Shas election event, urging voters to remain loyal to the party despite some internal criticism.

However, the party continues to face grassroots dissent, exemplified by a recent incident involving protester Malchieli, which revealed lingering anger among some voters over the draft law. New political initiatives, including efforts by factions linked to the Jerusalem Faction and other rabbis, aim to form uncompromising opposition to conscription targets. The return of Rabbi Yosef to a central role strengthens Deri's position against these challenges, but the real test will be whether the leadership's agreements can quell the protests or if opposition movements will continue to disrupt the established Haredi political order.