Shas blames draft stance for losses

Shas is facing one of its worst electoral results in history after losing roughly 118,000 votes. Party officials point to a hardline stance on haredi military enlistment as the primary cause of the defeat. The loss marks a sharp decline in support for a group that previously relied on demographic growth to expand its base.

In the 2022 election, Shas secured 11 Knesset seats with 392,964 votes. That represented 8.25% of valid ballots. In the current count, which excludes double-envelope ballots, the party has received approximately 275,000 votes. This equals about 5.3% of the total. The drop amounts to a 30% decrease in voter support.

Current estimates suggest the party will win only six seats in the 26th Knesset. This is half the representation Shas held in 2022. Internal projections had anticipated growth to 12 or 13 seats based on high birth rates among its supporters. Instead, the party faces a halving of its parliamentary presence.

Criticism within the party focuses on the political course taken during the war. Officials accuse specific leaders of adopting an extreme position on the draft. A Shas official stated, "Extremist elements have taken control of us." The official noted that Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef led a hardline approach and that other rabbis followed suit.

The official questioned the party's direction, asking, "Is this the Shas we want to be?" Some members argue that political leaders allowed this extremism to grow rather than restraining it. They also criticized the practice of sending MKs to visit haredi men in military prison for draft evasion. Reports indicate these visits were sometimes imposed on the MKs against their wishes.

Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef made public statements opposing enlistment while IDF soldiers fought on multiple fronts. He urged haredi men not to enlist even if they were not studying Torah. He also told them to flush draft notices down the toilet. These remarks drew public attention when hundreds of families had lost loved ones.

Chairman Arye Deri has no intention of stepping down despite the severe result. Associates say he intends to lead the party's recovery personally. A Shas official described the plan as a "revolution" and a "restart of the party." The goal is to return Shas to its roots as a party for the Sephardi, haredi, and traditional public.