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Shas party

Rabbi Dov Lando casts his vote at a voting station on the morning of the Municipal Elections, in Bnei Brak, on February 27, 2024. (Chaim Goldberg/ Flash90/ File)
David Horovitz
Op-ed
David Horovitz
Bring it on? Why the ultra-Orthodox, the opposition, and maybe Netanyahu think earlier elections will work for them
Haredi leaders believe forcing the vote on an earlier date will boost their support, the PM can see some potential benefit, and the opposition is evidently delighted. Thing is, they can’t all be right
Police inspect a damaged car at the home of Supreme Court Deputy President Noam Sohlberg in the West Bank settlement of Alon Shvut, after ultra-Orthodox Jews attacked the home in protest against the jailing of those who failed to comply with IDF draft orders, June 3, 2026. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
June 4, 2026, 2:48 pm
Supreme Court president: Haredi rampage at justice’s home was attack on rule of law
Amit vows court system and judges will not bow to violent intimidation; 62 suspects to face custody hearing, some said refusing to cooperate; GroPro cameras and drones seized
By Jeremy Sharon and ToI Staff
Shas leader Aryeh Deri in the Knesset in Jerusalem, May 27, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
June 1, 2026, 1:29 pm
Internal ultra-Orthodox politics are driving an unprecedented assault on the AG
Facing intense pressure from constituents over the failed draft exemption law, Shas chairman Aryeh Deri and right-wing allies are inciting a rebellion against law enforcement
By Shalom Yerushalmi
Shas chairman Aryeh Deri attends a vote on the 2026 state budget in the Knesset, March 29, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
June 1, 2026, 3:12 am
Shas leader threatens Haredi ‘tax revolt’ over latest push to conscript yeshiva students
Deri says government using Haredi parties as ‘punching bag’ after attorney general announces that donations to yeshivas harboring draft dodgers aren’t eligible for tax credits
By ToI Staff and Sam Sokol
MK Moshe Gafni attends a finance committee meeting at the Knesset, in Jerusalem, April 29, 2026. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
May 27, 2026, 7:26 pm
Following draft evader arrests, Gafni calls on Haredim to halt cooperation with police
Degel HaTorah chair urges local representatives not to ‘become complicit in harming the holy Torah.’ MKs advance bill restoring daycare subsidies for the children of draft dodgers
By Sam Sokol
Shas MK Moshe Arbel submits his formal letter of resignation from the Knesset to Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, on May 17, 2026. (Courtesy Amir Ohana)
May 17, 2026, 6:47 pm
Former Shas minister Moshe Arbel resigns from Knesset; defied party line on key issues
Ultra-Orthodox lawmaker, who served as both health and interior minister, broke ranks to say no moral justification for exempting Haredim from IDF if not studying in yeshiva; urged action against settler violence
By Sam Sokol
Rabbi Dov Lando casts his vote at a voting station on the morning of the Municipal Elections, in Bnei Brak, on February 27, 2024. (Chaim Goldberg/ Flash90/ File)
May 13, 2026, 5:28 pm
Bring it on? Why the ultra-Orthodox, the opposition, and maybe Netanyahu think earlier elections will work for them
Haredi leaders believe forcing the vote on an earlier date will boost their support, the PM can see some potential benefit, and the opposition is evidently delighted. Thing is, they can’t all be right
By David Horovitz
Rabbi Dov Lando casts his vote at a voting station on the morning of the Municipal Elections, in Bnei Brak, on February 27, 2024. (Chaim Goldberg/ Flash90/ File)
May 13, 2026, 9:30 am
Ultra-Orthodox parties break with Netanyahu but know they have nowhere else to go
Despite Rabbi Lando’s ultimatum and anger over the draft law, any talk of a historic alliance with the center-left is baseless, as the Haredi factions rightly fear losing their voters
By Shalom Yerushalmi
Degel HaTorah MKs meet with the spiritual leader of the Knesset faction, Rabbi Dov Lando, in his home in the central Israel city of Bnei Brak, May 12, 2026. (Courtesy Rabbi Dov Lando)
May 12, 2026, 9:54 pm
Haredi factions push to dissolve Knesset, increasing likelihood of slightly earlier elections
Degel HaTorah spiritual chief says it has ‘lost trust’ in PM over failure to pass army exemption bill; move would need support of Shas to succeed; opposition hopes to begin process Wednesday
By Sam Sokol and Ariela Karmel
Rabbi Zevadia Cohen (Religious Services Ministry)
April 26, 2026, 10:23 pm
Shas-backed candidate Zevadia Cohen appointed new chief rabbi of Tel Aviv
Rabbi selected by a 64-member committee after receiving the support of Mayor Ron Huldai
By Rossella Tercatin
Two top contenders for the position of Tel Aviv city rabbi. A special committee is set to appoint one of the candidates on April 26, 2026. Left: Rabbi Zevadia Cohen. (Wikipedia) Right: Rabbi Haim Amsalem. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
April 24, 2026, 2:38 pm
Tel Aviv set to choose new chief rabbi Sunday, with mayor said to favor Shas candidate
After a nine year vacancy, a 64-member panel will choose a candidate, with Mayor Ron Huldai reportedly striking deal with powerful Haredi party to give his support
By Rossella Tercatin
Activists protest against a bill that would give more authority to the rabbinical courts outside the Rabbinical Court of Tel Aviv, December 11, 2024. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)
March 24, 2026, 3:26 am
New law lets rabbinical courts arbitrate civil disputes; opposition head says Israel now a theocracy
Yair Lapid warns that the controversial government-backed legislation, which significantly expands religious courts’ authority, means country governed by Jewish law
By Sam Sokol
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotirch and United Torah Judaism MK Moshe Gafni attend a Knesset budget debate, December 16, 2024. (Chaim Goldberg FLASH90)
March 9, 2026, 9:09 pm
Haredi parties likely to vote for 2026 state budget despite lack of exemption law
Shas and Degel HaTorah expected to vote in favor of budget while Agudat Yisrael will oppose it. Bill regulating Haredi conscription will not pass before the Knesset recess
By Sam Sokol
Shas party leader MK Aryeh Deri, right, speaks with United Torah Judaism No. 2 MK Moshe Gafni during a Knesset plenum session in Jerusalem, February 10, 2025. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
March 5, 2026, 6:02 pm
In midst of war with Iran, Haredim continue to push for sweeping draft exemptions
Spokeswoman for Knesset defense panel chairman Boaz Bismuth says draft of controversial bill ready to advance once Knesset resumes normal parliamentary activity
By Sam Sokol
Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men block a road during a protest against the jailing of yeshiva students at the Gilat junction, near the southern Israeli city of Ofakim, February 9, 2026. (Tsafrir Abayov/Flash90)
February 10, 2026, 11:50 am
Haredi spiritual leaders: Those who arrest draft dodgers could face divine retribution
Rabbis of Shas, UTJ’s Degel HaTorah call on Military Police to refuse orders rather than commit the ‘terrible crime’ of arresting ultra-Orthodox men evading military service
By Sam Sokol
Degel HaTorah chairman MK Moshe Gafni addresses the Knesset, February 9, 2026. (Noam Moskowitz, Office of the Knesset Spokesperson)
February 10, 2026, 6:13 am
Coalition advances key budget bill after enough Haredi MKs walk back revolt plans
Knesset approves split of Arrangements Bill, clearing path for budget to pass before deadline, but talks on Haredi draft bill still stuck, raising likelihood of early elections
By Sam Sokol
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