Shas Party Suffers Historic Electoral Blow, Falling Behind United Torah Judaism

For the first time since its founding in 1984, the Shas party, led by Aryeh Deri, is projected to receive fewer Knesset seats than United Torah Judaism. With 97.3% of votes counted in the recent election, Shas has dropped to six mandates, while United Torah Judaism has secured seven. This marks a significant decline for Shas, which garnered 11 mandates in the previous election just four years ago, previously holding the position of the largest political force within the ultra-Orthodox community.

The shift represents a substantial change in the balance of power between the two major Haredi parties. In the 2022 elections, Shas held a four-mandate advantage over United Torah Judaism, winning 11 seats compared to seven. Now, Shas has lost five mandates over four years, falling below United Torah Judaism, which was established as a unified list in 1992.

This outcome is particularly striking given Shas's historical performance, which peaked at 17 mandates in the 1999 elections. The party had long established itself as a central political entity within the Haredi public. The current results, with 97.3% of votes tallied and the counting of double envelopes not yet complete, indicate one of Shas's lowest electoral performances since its inception.