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Shas Leader Aryeh Deri May Resign Knesset Seat After Election Blow
The Shas party is facing an unprecedented internal crisis following a severe electoral defeat in the elections for the 26th Knesset, where the party's representation plummeted from 11 seats to just six. This historic low, not seen since 1992, was marked by the loss of approximately 100,000 votes. Support for the party dropped by 45% in its traditional strongholds in the southern periphery, 35% in central and mixed cities, and 25% in predominantly Haredi cities.
3 newsrooms · 2 languages · since
What happened
- 01The Shas party suffered a historic electoral defeat, dropping from 11 seats in the outgoing Knesset to just six in the 26th Knesset.
- 02Shas lost approximately 100,000 votes, with support plunging by 45% in its traditional southern periphery strongholds and 25% in Haredi cities.
- 03Party chairman Aryeh Deri is reportedly considering resigning his Knesset seat and stepping down from the leadership of Shas.
- 04According to i24NEWS, Deri may seek to remain in an external role such as "President of Shas," with Ariel Atias tipped to replace him as faction chairman.
- 05Former MK Yigal Guetta stated that Shas alienated voters by opposing Haredi military integration while failing to secure a draft exemption for yeshiva students.
- 06Sources close to Aryeh Deri have strongly denied the reports of his potential resignation, claiming he has no intention of stepping down.
- 07Aryeh Deri held meetings at his home with Sephardic Chief Rabbi David Yosef and members of the Shas Council of Torah Sages to discuss the crisis.
According to Ice, former MK Yigal Guetta attributed the massive voter desertion to a political bind. Shas alienated traditional and national voters with its uncompromising stance against integrating Haredim into the military, while simultaneously failing to secure a legal conscription exemption for yeshiva students, which angered its more devout factions. Following the election, party chairman Aryeh Deri canceled a planned election night rally and went into seclusion at his home.
Reports indicate that Aryeh Deri is considering resigning his Knesset seat and potentially stepping down from the party leadership, with a decision expected as early as Saturday evening. According to i24NEWS, his family members revealed he leans toward leaving the Knesset but remaining in an external role, such as "President of Shas," with Ariel Atias being the leading candidate to replace him as faction chairman. While senior rabbis, including Sephardic Chief Rabbi David Yosef, have visited Deri to offer support, sources close to Deri have strongly denied the resignation reports, insisting he has no intention of stepping down.
Summarized by baba from the reports of 3 newsrooms. Updated
Latest report: i24NEWS. Read i24NEWS’s originalThe coverage
3 newsrooms on this story
Who covered it
- LeftNone
- Centre1
- Right1
- HarediNone
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- Other1
How it broke
How the headlines differ
Shas Leader Aryeh Deri May Resign Knesset Seat After Election Blow
