Shas Faces Backlash Over Controversial Election Video Featuring Religious Soldier

Ahead of upcoming elections, Shas chairman Aryeh Deri released a campaign video featuring a religious IDF soldier returning home for Shabbat, which sparked significant controversy online, including among bereaved families. The video shows the soldier arriving late for the Sabbath meal, embraced by family, with a relative saying he prayed for all soldiers. The clip also claims that over 30,000 soldiers and reservists voted for Shas in the last election, a figure disputed as it likely includes double voting envelopes from prisoners, hospital patients, nursing home residents, and polling station workers affiliated with Shas.

The video drew sharp criticism from bereaved families of soldiers killed in recent conflicts, including Rafi Ben Shitrit, who lost his son Alroi on October 7 and now supports the Yisrael Beiteinu party. Ben Shitrit condemned Deri for sending "other people's children to die" while his own children avoid military service. Other bereaved relatives expressed outrage at the video’s insensitivity. Yisrael Beiteinu leader Gadi Eisenkot also condemned the video, demanding its removal for violating election propaganda regulations and falsely implying IDF endorsement of Shas, which he accused of promoting draft evasion.

Shas responded by defending its representation of tens of thousands of soldiers and reservists alongside Torah scholars, rejecting Eisenkot’s accusations and accusing him of undermining Israel’s Jewish identity by aligning with Mansour Abbas and the Muslim Brotherhood. They clarified the video did not use IDF insignia and portrayed a soldier in civilian clothes to counter claims Shas supports draft evasion.

Separately, Shas reported that MK Michael Malchieli was attacked by extremist Haredi protesters in Jerusalem for supporting Haredi conscription, with assailants calling him a "murderer." Shas condemned the attackers as a fringe anarchist group collaborating with left-wing organizations to harm the right-wing and religious community, affirming their commitment to unity and Torah values despite intimidation.

The controversy highlights tensions within Israeli society over military service, political alliances, and the sensitivities of families affected by ongoing conflict.