Black Color Party Claims Success in Diverting Haredi Votes

The fringe party Black Color (Tzeva Shahor) is claiming a significant impact on the recent elections, despite receiving only 9,308 votes, which falls far short of the threshold for Knesset representation. The party stated that its primary achievement was preventing three to four Knesset seats from going to traditional Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) parties, such as Shas. Black Color asserts that these voters, who would have otherwise supported Haredi parties, ultimately abstained from voting altogether, rather than casting their ballots for Black Color.

The party's message, headlined "3-4 Mandates," emphasizes its success in raising the issue of the status of yeshiva students, a central tenet of its platform. "We spoke about three to four mandates that would not vote for the Haredi parties, and that is exactly what happened," the party declared. "Hundreds of thousands of votes did not come home, and the demand for regulating the status of yeshiva students has become a topic that can no longer be pushed aside."

Despite its low vote count, Black Color expressed pride in its campaign, stating, "We are proud that we were a voice for this public and placed at the top of the agenda the need to anchor forever the status of 'Torato Umanuto' (his Torah is his craft)." The party added, "And if only you had allowed them to vote Black Color, we would also be in the Knesset today, but you preferred they stay home." Black Color vowed to continue its fight for the full and clear regulation of the status of yeshiva students.