Full coverage· Politics· Updated 4 Nov, 20:17

Shas Leader Aryeh Deri Remains Chairman After Rabbis Reject Resignation Request

The Council of Torah Sages of the Shas party has decided that Arie Deri will remain the party chairman, rejecting his request to step down from his leadership position. The decision was reached during a telephone conference call on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, which replaced a previously planned in-person meeting.

3 newsrooms · 2 languages · since 4 Nov, 18:12

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What happened

01The Council of Torah Sages rejected a request from Arie Deri to resign as chairman of the Shas party.
02The decision was made during a telephone conference call on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, after a planned in-person meeting was canceled.
03Deri will continue to lead the Shas party regardless of whether he remains a member of the Knesset.
04The resignation request followed recent elections in which Shas secured only six mandates and suffered a decline in support.
05Some rabbis blamed Deri's controversial statements for a loss of up to 100,000 voters, particularly in ultra-Orthodox cities.
06A joint letter of support for Deri was abandoned after two council members refused to sign alongside former Sephardic Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef.
07During consultations with President Yitzhak Herzog, Shas recommended Benjamin Netanyahu to form the next government.

Deri requested to resign following recent election results in which Shas secured only six mandates, experiencing a substantial decline in support, particularly in ultra-Orthodox cities. Some rabbis blamed Deri's controversial statements for a loss of up to 100,000 voters. Despite these tensions, the council determined that Deri must continue to lead the movement, and Deri accepted the decision, stating he obeys the rabbis' directive.

Under the council's decision, Deri will continue to lead Shas regardless of whether he retains his Knesset seat or decides to relinquish his parliamentary mandate. While Shas denied reports that Deri had submitted a written resignation from the Knesset, his future in the parliament remains uncertain. Meanwhile, during consultations with President Yitzhak Herzog, Shas recommended Benjamin Netanyahu to form the government.

Summarized by baba from the reports of 3 newsrooms. Updated 00:21

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