Shas

Hebrew: ש“ס · Founded: 1984 · Leader: Aryeh Deri

Sephardi/Mizrahi Haredi party. Deri is barred from holding a ministerial post by the High Court following a 2021 conviction, but remains party leader and a close Netanyahu ally. Economically statist/welfare-oriented for its base; religiously conservative; relatively pragmatic (not maximalist) on security and territory compared to the far right.

• Polling: roughly 7–9 seats.
• 2026 focus: cost of living, funding for religious educational institutions, draft exemptions.
• Coalition status note (contested): Shas resigned its ministerial posts in July 2025 amid the draft dispute but has described itself as remaining “in the coalition” without bringing down the government — sources genuinely disagree on how to characterize this status; treat “in government” vs. “in coalition but out of government” as an open question rather than a settled fact. See Sources & Contested Points.