Shas Leader Aryeh Deri Signals Conditional Support for Netanyahu If He Fails to Form Government

Aryeh Deri, chairman of the Shas party, reaffirmed his party's loyalty to the national right-wing bloc and officially endorsed Benjamin Netanyahu as their prime ministerial candidate ahead of the upcoming elections. In an interview with journalist Aryeh Ehrlich for the newspaper Mishpacha, Deri emphasized Shas's commitment to Netanyahu and the right-wing tradition.

However, Deri stopped short of guaranteeing automatic opposition support if Netanyahu fails to form a government. He explained that in such a scenario, the party's Council of Torah Sages would decide whether Shas would push for new elections or continue efforts to form a coalition. This statement introduces a significant caveat to Shas's stance, indicating flexibility in post-election coalition negotiations.

Deri's remarks have attracted considerable attention within the political system as they highlight Shas's clear backing of Netanyahu while leaving open the possibility of alternative strategies depending on election outcomes and coalition dynamics.