Shas Seeks Military-Experienced Candidate to Strengthen Traditional Voter Base Ahead of Elections

Shas chairman Aryeh Deri is searching for a candidate with a military background to join the party's list for the upcoming elections, according to a report by i24NEWS. This move comes as Shas prepares for changes in its lineup following the retirement of Moshe Arbel and the expected departure of veteran MK Yaakov Margi. The party aims to reinforce its connection with the traditional public while highlighting a significant link to military service.

The initiative also has campaign implications, as Shas seeks to broaden its appeal beyond the ultra-Orthodox community to include traditional voters and soldiers. This follows controversy over a recent Shas election video depicting a traditional family awaiting a soldier's return for Sabbath, which claimed that over 30,000 soldiers and reservists voted for Shas in the last elections. The video faced sharp criticism from political circles and social media, partly due to the party's rabbis' stance on military conscription, leading the Central Elections Committee chairman, Judge Noam Solberg, to order its removal.

Now, Shas appears to be translating its outreach efforts into its candidate roster by incorporating a military-experienced figure to help secure the traditional vote in the upcoming electoral contest.