Shas Leader Aryeh Deri Steps Down from Knesset Seat After Election Setback

Shas leader Aryeh Deri has announced that he will not serve as a Member of Knesset in the upcoming parliament, stepping down from the party's electoral list alongside fellow candidates Moshe Abutbul and Dror Amos.

Following the recent elections in which Shas secured only six mandates, marking a significant setback for the party, Uriel Buso and Yossi Tayeb will enter the Knesset in their place. On Tuesday, the newly appointed Shas lawmakers—including Ynon Azoulay, Michael Malkieli, Yoav Ben Tzur, Chaim Biton, Uriel Buso, and Yossi Tayeb—are scheduled to be sworn into office.

Dror Amos, a reserve lieutenant colonel who was initially included on the Shas list to appeal to soldiers and their families, has concluded his political run after the electoral strategy failed to yield the anticipated support. Meanwhile, Aryeh Deri has maintained a low profile since the elections, though he addressed a recent faction meeting to reflect on the campaign.

During the meeting, Deri alluded to internal challenges and external pressure, noting that 300,000 voters remained loyal to the party despite a fierce campaign against them. He also commented on potential future coalitions, expressing skepticism regarding whether opposition figures could accommodate United Torah Judaism within a prospective government led by figures like Gadi Eisenkot, while pointing to differing interests among Avigdor Liberman and Naftali Bennett.