View source for Shas

{{Short description|Israeli political party (1984-)}}
{{Other uses|Shas (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox political party
| colorcode = {{party color|Shas}}
| foundation = 1984
| ideology = {{ubl|class=nowrap|[[Populism]]<ref name=populism>{{cite book|title=The Political Right in Israel: Different Faces of Jewish Populism |first=Dani |last=Flic |year=2012 |publisher=Routledge Studies on the Arab-Israeli Conflict}}</ref>
 |[[Social conservatism]]<ref>{{cite book |title=The Progressive Alliance and the 2017 General Election: All Together Now |first=Barry |last=Langford |year=2017 |publisher=Biteback Publishing |quote=the socially conservative Shas}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://eipa.eu.com/category/information-centre/political-system/political-parties/ |access-date=10 May 2020 |work=Europe-Israel Press Association |title=Political Parties as of 2013 |archive-date=20 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200720162054/https://eipa.eu.com/category/information-centre/political-system/political-parties/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
 |[[Conservatism#Religious conservatism|Religious conservatism]]<ref>{{cite book |author =Dani Filc |year =2010 |title =The Political Right in Israel: Different Faces of Jewish Populism |publisher =Routledge |series =Routledge Studies on the Arab-Israeli Conflict |page =79 |isbn =978-0415488303}}</ref>
 |[[Social democracy]]<ref>{{cite news |title=ש"ס: הרשימה המלאה של המפלגה בדרך לבחירות 2021 |date=31 January 2021 |work=Maariv |quote=ש"ס באופן מסורתי מציגה עצמה כמפלגה סוציאל-דמוקרטית, הפועלת לסיוע לחלשים והנזקיים. |url=https://www.maariv.co.il/news/politics/Article-812827}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=סוציאליזם חרדי |work=Ne'emanei Torah Va'Avodah |quote=המצעים והקמפיינים של ש"ס ושל יהדות התורה בבחירות האחרונות היו הכי סוציאל-דמוקרטיים מבין כל המפלגות היהודיות שהתמודדו לכנסת. חברי הכנסת גפני, ליצמן, מרגי ואחרים משתפים פעולה יום יום עם חברי הכנסת הסוציאל-דמוקרטים המובהקים ביותר במשכן; גפני אף נחשב במשך שנים לסמן השמאלי בוועדת הכספים, ולמי שעצר – לעתים בגופו – מהלכים ניאו-ליברליים של נתניהו.|url=https://toravoda.org.il/%D7%9B%D7%AA%D7%91%D7%94/%D7%A1%D7%95%D7%A6%D7%99%D7%90%D7%9C%D7%99%D7%96%D7%9D-%D7%97%D7%A8%D7%93%D7%99-%D7%9E%D7%99%D7%9B%D7%9C-%D7%A6%D7%A8%D7%A0%D7%95%D7%91%D7%99%D7%A6%D7%A7%D7%99/}}</ref>
 |[[Sephardic Jews|Sephardic]] and [[Mizrahi Jews|Mizrahi]]<br>interests
 |[[Ultra-Orthodox|Haredi]] interests<ref name=bbc>{{cite news |title =Guide to Israel's political parties |date =21 January 2013 |url =https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-21073450 |publisher =BBC News |access-date =28 June 2015 |archive-date =25 December 2017 |archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20171225125003/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-21073450 |url-status =live }}</ref><ref name=washpost>{{cite news |author =Ishaan Tharoor |date =14 March 2015 |newspaper =The Washington Post |url =https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2015/03/13/these-are-the-political-parties-battling-for-israels-future/ |title =A guide to the political parties battling for Israel's future |access-date =28 June 2015 |archive-date=1 July 2015 |archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20150701053730/http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2015/03/13/these-are-the-political-parties-battling-for-israels-future/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
 |[[Religious Zionism]] <small>(since 2010)</small>
|'''Formerly'''
|[[Non-Zionism#Haredi non-Zionism|Haredi non-Zionism]] <small>(until 2010)</small>}}
| headquarters = [[Jerusalem]]
| international = [[World Zionist Organization]]
| website = {{URL|https://shas.org.il}}
| country = Israel
| split = [[Agudat Yisrael]]
| name = Shas
| native_name = ש״ס
| logo = Shas logo.svg{{!}}class=skin-invert
| logo_size = 125
| leader = [[Aryeh Deri]]
| leader1_title = Spiritual Leader
| leader1_name = Vacant
| founders = [[Elazar Shach]]<br>[[Ovadia Yosef]]
| position = {{ubl|class=nowrap|
 |Fiscal: [[Centre-left politics|Centre-left]]<ref name="Haaretz Guide">{{cite web |url =https://www.haaretz.com/news/israeli-elections-2013 |title =Parties Guide |work =Haaretz |access-date =25 December 2012 |archive-date =25 December 2012 |archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20121225014342/http://www.haaretz.com/news/israeli-elections-2013 |url-status =live }}</ref>
 |Social: [[Right-wing politics|Right-wing]]<ref>{{cite web |url =https://israelpolicyforum.org/shas/ |title =Shas |author =<!--Not stated--> |website =Israel Policy Forum |access-date =2021-04-26 |archive-date =26 April 2021 |archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20210426142626/https://israelpolicyforum.org/shas/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}
| religion = [[Haredi Judaism]] ([[Sephardic Haredim|Sephardic]])
| colours = {{Color box|{{party color|Shas}}|border=darkgray}} {{Color box|#F0BB0C|border=darkgray}} [[Black (color)|Black]], [[Gold (color)|Gold]]<br/>{{Color box|#00A2E3|border=darkgray}} [[Azure (color)|Azure]] (past)
| seats1_title = [[Knesset]]
| seats1 = {{Composition bar|11|120|hex={{party color|Shas}}}}
| symbol = 
| seats2_title = Most MKs
| seats2 = {{nowrap|17 ([[1999 Israeli general election|1999]])}}
| blank1_title = [[Elections in Israel#Voting method|Ballot letters]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://bechirot24.bechirot.gov.il/election/Candidates/Pages/OneListCandidates.aspx?LPF=Search&WebId=6adadc15-e476-480b-9746-04490aedeb0f&ListID=ba72a662-765c-45af-9d48-fb68080956af&ItemID=206&FieldID=ListNickname_GxS_Text |title=התאחדות הספרדים שומרי תורה תנועתו של מרן הרב עובדיה יוסף זצ"ל |website=Central Election Committee for the Knesset |access-date=2021-06-14 |language=he |archive-date=24 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220824160750/https://bechirot24.bechirot.gov.il/election/Candidates/Pages/OneListCandidates.aspx?LPF=Search&WebId=6adadc15-e476-480b-9746-04490aedeb0f&ListID=ba72a662-765c-45af-9d48-fb68080956af&ItemID=206&FieldID=ListNickname_GxS_Text |url-status=live}}</ref>
| blank1 = {{langx|he|שס}}<br/>{{langx|ar|ش‌س}}
}}

'''Shas''' ({{langx|he|ש״ס}}) is a [[Haredi Judaism|Haredi]] religious [[List of political parties in Israel|political party]] in Israel.<ref name="EB">{{cite encyclopedia | url =http://www.britannica.com/topic/Shas | title =Shas | publisher =Encyclopædia Britannica Online | encyclopedia =Encyclopædia Britannica 2011 | access-date =17 June 2015 | archive-date =18 June 2015 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20150618205557/http://www.britannica.com/topic/Shas | url-status =live }}</ref> Founded in 1984 by [[Rabbi]] [[Ovadia Yosef]], a former Israeli [[Sephardic Jews|Sephardi]] [[chief rabbi]], who remained its spiritual leader until his death in October 2013,<ref>
{{cite book
 |last1 = Neuberger
 |first1 = Benyamin
 |editor-last1 = Caplan
 |editor-first1 = Kimmy
 |editor-last2 = Leon
 |editor-first2 = Nissim
 |date = 29 September 2023
 |chapter = The Haredim in Israeli Politics
 |title = Contemporary Israeli Haredi Society: Profiles, Trends, and Challenges
 |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=JQXUEAAAQBAJ
 |series = Routledge Jewish Studies Series
 |publisher = Taylor & Francis
 |pages = 
 |isbn = 9781000877571
 |access-date = 27 May 2025
 |quote = Shas is subordinate to the authority of the Council of Torah Sages, but its ultimate adjudicators between 1984-1988 were Rabbis Yosef and Shach, and from 1988, Yosef alone [...].For many years, from the founding of Shas and until his death, Rabbi Yosef was president of its Council of Torah Sages. He also determined the composition of rabbis who served on this Council.
}}
</ref>
it primarily represents the interests of [[Sephardic Haredim|Sephardic]] and [[Mizrahi Jews|Mizrahi]] [[Haredi Judaism|Haredi]] Jews.<ref name="EJ">{{cite EJ|url=http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CCX2587518235&v=2.1&it=r&p=GVRL&sw=w|title=Shas|volume=18|pages=419–420|access-date=21 December 2011}}</ref>

Shas is the third-largest party in the [[Knesset]] {{as of | 2024 | lc = on}}. Since 1984, it has been part of most governing coalitions, whether the ruling party was [[Israeli Labor Party|Labor]] or [[Likud]].

==Name==
The party was originally called ''Shom'rei Torah'' ("Guardians of the [[Torah]]"), with the acronym ש״ת, pronounced "Shat" or "Shas". However, Israeli election law requires a party wishing to use letters for their acronym that already appear in the acronym of an existing party to first obtain permission from that party, and the [[Israeli Labor Party]], whose letters are אמת, refused to grant Shas permission to use the ת. Instead, it was named ש״ס, Shas, an acronym for ''Shomrei S'farad'', meaning "[[Sephardi Jews|Sephardic]] Guardians".<ref>{{Cite web|title=Shas|url=https://en.idi.org.il/israeli-elections-and-parties/parties/shas/|access-date=2020-07-08|website=Israel Democracy Institute|archive-date=24 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220824160752/https://en.idi.org.il/israeli-elections-and-parties/parties/shas/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Stanislawski|first=Michael|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jRs1DQAAQBAJ&q=Shomrei+Sefarad&pg=PA99|title=Zionism: A Very Short Introduction|date=2017|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-976604-8|language=en|access-date=3 October 2020|archive-date=24 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220824160742/https://books.google.com/books?id=jRs1DQAAQBAJ&q=Shomrei+Sefarad&pg=PA99|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=הצטרפו ליום השני של הגשת הרשימות לכנסת ה - 24|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyqf7Hsii80&t=368m55s |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/jyqf7Hsii80| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|access-date=2021-02-04|website=Central Elections Committee| date=4 February 2021 }}{{cbignore}}</ref> The name is also a reference to the six orders (''Shisha S'darim'') of the [[Mishnah]] and the [[Talmud]], both of which are often referred to by the same acronym, "Shas". The party's legal name is "Hit'akhdut ha-S'pharadim ha-Olamit Shom'rei Torah" (התאחדות הספרדים העולמית שומרי תורה), meaning "International Union of the Sepharadim, Guardians of the Torah".<ref name="Forward" />

==History==
[[File:Aryeh Deri.jpg|thumb|200px|[[Aryeh Deri]], chairman of Shas]]
[[File:Eli Yishai 2009.jpg|thumb|200px|Eli Yishai, 2009]]
Shas was founded in 1984, prior to the [[1984 Israeli legislative election|elections to the eleventh Knesset]] in the same year, in protest against the small representation of Sephardim in the largely [[Ashkenazi Jews|Ashkenazi]] [[Agudat Yisrael]],<ref name="EJ"/> through the merger of regional lists which were compiled in 1983. It was originally known as the '''Worldwide Sephardic Association of Torah Keepers''' ({{langx|he|הִתְאַחֲדוּת הַסְּפָרַדִּים הָעוֹלָמִית שׁוֹמְרֵי תּוֹרָה}}, ''Hitahdut HaSfaradim HaOlamit Shomrei Torah''). The party was formed under the leadership of former Israeli Chief Sephardi Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, who established a four-member (including himself) Council of Torah Sages and remained the party's spiritual leader until his death. In founding the party, Yosef received strategic help and guidance from Rabbi [[Elazar Shach]], leader of Israel's non-[[Hasidic]] Haredi Ashkenazi Jews.<ref name="EJYosef">{{cite EJ|url=http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CCX2587521312&v=2.1&it=r&p=GVRL&sw=w|title=Yosef, Ovadiah|author=Alfassi, Itzhak|volume=21|pages=399|access-date=21 December 2011}}</ref> Yosef founded the party in 1984 on the platform of a return to religion and as a counter to an establishment dominated by Ashkenazi Jews of European extraction.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.maannews.com/Content.aspx?id=636769 |title=Israel's influential Rabbi Ovadia Yosef dead at 93 |agency=AFP |publisher=Ma'an News Agency |date=7 October 2013 |access-date=18 June 2015 |archive-date=18 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150618195710/http://www.maannews.com/Content.aspx?id=636769 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Not all Shas voters are [[Haredi Judaism|ultra-Orthodox Jews]]. Many of its voters are [[Modern Orthodox Judaism|Modern Orthodox]] and [[Masortim|traditional]] Mizrahi and Sephardi Jews, due to its alignment with the promotion of an "authentic Middle Eastern" [[Israeli culture]], which fits with traditional [[Zionist]] beliefs of a revival of authentic, non-Europeanized [[Jewish culture]]. However, it still represents the Sephardi and Mizrahi Haredi Jewish sectors in the [[Knesset]]. Shas has at times been able to exert disproportionate influence by gaining control of the balance of power in the Knesset within the context of the traditionally narrow margin between Israel's large parties. Like its [[Labor Zionism|Labor Zionist]] counterparts (i. e., [[Israel Labor Party|Labor]] and [[Meretz]]) that gain votes from the [[kibbutz]] movement, Shas gains votes and supports from [[moshav]]im that are inhabited by Mizrahi and Sephardi Jews, either Orthodox or non-Orthodox. Also, since it became a member of the [[World Zionist Organization]], it gains votes from Orthodox settlers in the West Bank.{{Citation needed|date=May 2022}}

In the elections to the eleventh Knesset in 1984, Shas won four seats.<ref name="EJ" /> Following [[Aryeh Deri]]'s conviction on corruption charges in 1999, Shas gained 17 seats in the [[1999 Israeli legislative election|1999 elections]], its strongest showing since its formation. Although 26 seats were projected for the following election had it run in 2001, Shas was reduced to 11 seats in the [[2003 Israeli legislative election|2003 election]] because the two-ballot system was amended.{{Citation needed|date=May 2022}}

In the [[2006 Israeli legislative election|2006 elections]], it gained one more seat, after running what the BBC called "an aggressive campaign that targeted the [[neo-conservative]] economic policies of the previous government",<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4813056.stm |title=Israeli political parties |publisher=BBC News |date=5 April 2006 |access-date=21 December 2011 |archive-date=22 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150622043916/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4813056.stm#Shas |url-status=live }}</ref> and joined [[Ehud Olmert]]'s [[Government of Israel|coalition government]], alongside [[Kadima]], [[Labor Party (Israel)|Labor]], [[Gil (political party)|Gil]] and, between October 2006 and January 2008, [[Yisrael Beiteinu]]. In the government, Shas party leader Yishai was Minister of Industry, Trade and Labor and [[Deputy leaders of Israel#Deputy Prime Minister|Deputy Prime Minister]], while [[Ariel Atias]] was Minister of Communications and [[Meshulam Nahari]] and [[Yitzhak Cohen]] were [[Minister Without Portfolio|Ministers without Portfolio]].{{Citation needed|date=May 2022}}

Following the [[2009 Israeli legislative election|2009 elections]], in which Shas won eleven seats, it joined [[Benjamin Netanyahu]]'s coalition government and held four cabinet posts. [[Eli Yishai]], who led the party at that time, was one of four Deputy Prime Ministers and [[Internal Affairs Minister of Israel|Minister of Internal Affairs]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Thirty-Second Government |url=https://main.knesset.gov.il/mk/government/pages/governments.aspx?govid=32 |access-date=2025-09-06 |website=main.knesset.gov.il}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=2009 |url=https://en.idi.org.il/israeli-elections-and-parties/elections/2009/ |access-date=2025-09-06 |website=Israel Democracy Institute |language=en}}</ref>

On 4 December 2011, Shas launched its United States affiliate, American Friends of Shas, based in Brooklyn, New York.<ref name="Forward" />

Shas won 11 seats in the [[2013 Israeli legislative election|2013 elections]],<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.jta.org/2013/03/05/news-opinion/israel-middle-east/with-time-running-out-to-form-a-government-netanyahu-facing-tough-choices |title=With time running out to form a government, Netanyahu was facing tough choices |first=Ben |last=Sales |publisher=JTA |date=5 March 2013 |access-date=17 June 2015 |archive-date=4 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150104225642/http://www.jta.org/2013/03/05/news-opinion/israel-middle-east/with-time-running-out-to-form-a-government-netanyahu-facing-tough-choices |url-status=live }}</ref> but chose to form part of the Labor opposition to Netanyahu's new government. [[Yair Lapid]] of the [[Yesh Atid]] party and [[Naftali Bennett]] of [[The Jewish Home]], who had won more seats and joined the coalition, both favored conscription of the previously exempt Haredi men into Israel's national service and a reduction in state financial support for Haredi families, policies Shas opposes.{{Citation needed|date=May 2022}}

In December 2014, Eli Yishai left the Shas party, which he had led for more than a decade. He said he would lead a new religious party in the election scheduled for March 2015. His departure from Shas and Aryeh Deri did not come as a surprise.<ref>{{cite news |author=Yair Ettinger |url=https://www.haaretz.com/news/national/1.632013 |title=Eli Yishai breaks away from Shas, announces new party |newspaper=Haaretz |date=15 December 2014 |access-date=17 June 2015 |archive-date=7 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150407223844/http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/1.632013 |url-status=live }}</ref> The party that he formed, [[Yachad (political party)|Yachad]], failed to pass the election threshold.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.votes20.gov.il/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150318200737/http://www.votes20.gov.il/|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 March 2015|title=Votes 20}}</ref> In the [[2015 Israeli legislative election|ensuing election]], Shas was accused of tampering with Yachad ballots.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/193970|title=Shas Activists Caught on Tape Guiding Voter Fraud|website=Israel National News|date=13 April 2015 |access-date=2017-11-10|archive-date=10 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171110080110/http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/193970|url-status=live}}</ref> They were also accused of creating a straw party with the symbols of [[Otzma Yehudit]], which was running on a joint list with Yachad during the election.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/192770|title=Fictitious Party Meant to Harm Yachad, Rightist Coalition?|website=Israel National News|date=17 March 2015 |access-date=2017-11-10|archive-date=10 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171110114705/http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/192770|url-status=live}}</ref> Shas won 7 seats in the election.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/2015-elections|title=2015 Elections|publisher=Jewish Virtual Library|language=en|access-date=2017-11-10|archive-date=24 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171124082250/http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/2015-elections|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2017, opinion polling showed that Shas was falling under the election threshold of 3.25%.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/236936|title=Will Shas be left out of the next Knesset?|website=Israel National News|date=19 October 2017 |access-date=2017-11-10|archive-date=10 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171110114827/http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/236936|url-status=live}}</ref> In response, Shas leaders said that there was a coup attempt in the party.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/237522|title=Deri: Coup attempt in Shas|website=Israel National News|date=November 2017 |access-date=2017-11-10|archive-date=10 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171110173022/http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/237522|url-status=live}}</ref> In the same year, a tape was leaked of the party's former spiritual leader, criticizing Jerusalem Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Leaked-recording-of-late-Shas-party-leader-latest-in-party-civil-war-513737|title=Leaked recording of late Shas party leader latest in party civil war|work=[[The Jerusalem Post]]|access-date=2017-11-10|archive-date=10 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171110084856/http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Leaked-recording-of-late-Shas-party-leader-latest-in-party-civil-war-513737|url-status=live |issn=0792-822X}}</ref>

The party won 8 seats in the [[April 2019 Israeli legislative election|April 2019 election]], and 9 seats in [[September 2019 Israeli legislative election|September 2019]]. Both elections were inconclusive, and resulted in a third election in [[2020 Israeli legislative election|2020]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=The April 2019 Elections |url=https://en.idi.org.il/israeli-elections-and-parties/elections/2019-1/ |access-date=2025-09-06 |website=Israel Democracy Institute |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The September 2019 Elections |url=https://en.idi.org.il/israeli-elections-and-parties/elections/2019-2/ |access-date=2025-09-06 |website=Israel Democracy Institute}}</ref> in which Shas won 9 seats.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2020 |url=https://en.idi.org.il/israeli-elections-and-parties/elections/2020-1/ |access-date=2025-09-06 |website=Israel Democracy Institute |language=en}}</ref> After the election, a senior Likud minister anonymously told [[Al-Monitor]] that Deri was mediating political coalition talks between Netanyahu and [[Blue and White (political alliance)|Blue and White]] leader [[Benny Gantz]]. It was also reported that Deri "might even be open to a new alliance with Blue and White" after the anti-clerical Yesh Atid split from the alliance.<ref name="darikahlon">{{cite news |last=Mualem |first=Mazal |date=17 April 2020 |title=Netanyahu's right-wing bloc starts cracking |url=https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2020/04/israel-benjamin-netanyahu-rightwing-camp-national-unity.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200421113726/https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2020/04/israel-benjamin-netanyahu-rightwing-camp-national-unity.html |archive-date=21 April 2020 |access-date=17 April 2020 |publisher=Al-Monitor}}</ref> Negotiations subsequently resulted in the formation of a [[Thirty-fifth government of Israel|rotation government]] between Netanyahu and Gantz, which included Shas. The government collapsed in December 2020 due to failed budget negotiations, resulting in another snap election in [[2021 Israeli legislative election|2021]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kershner |first=Isabel |date=2020-12-22 |title=Israeli Government Collapses, Forcing 4th Election in 2 Years (Published 2020) |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/22/world/middleeast/israel-election-netanyahu.html |access-date=2025-09-06 |work=[[New York Times]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Magid |first=Jacob |date=2020-05-17 |title=After 508-day crisis, Israel’s new government finally sworn in by Knesset |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/ending-political-crisis-new-government-sworn-in-by-knesset/ |access-date=2025-09-06 |work=The Times of Israel |language=en-US |issn=0040-7909}}</ref>

Shas won 9 seats in the 2021 election, but remained out of government for the first time since 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ש"ס |url=https://www.idi.org.il/policy/parties-and-elections/parties/shas/ |access-date=2025-09-06 |website=www.idi.org.il |language=he}}</ref> Later that year, Deri resigned from the Knesset as part of a plea bargain for alleged tax evasion.<ref>{{Cite news |last=צימוקי |first=טובה |last2=אזולאי |first2=מורן |date=2021-12-23 |title=ההסדר נחתם: דרעי יודה בעבירות מס, יתפטר מהכנסת - ומנדלבליט לא יטען לקלון |url=https://www.ynet.co.il/news/article/s1alw1gjt |access-date=2025-09-06 |work=Ynet |language=he}}</ref> The new government collapsed after a year, and elections were held in [[2022 Israeli legislative election|2022]], Shas won 11 seats. Shas returned to government, with Deri becoming Interior Minister, [[Ministry of Health (Israel)|Health Mnister]] and [[Vice Prime Minister (Israel)|Vice Prime Minister]]. In early 2023, Deri was required to relinquish his ministerial posts due to the plea bargain after a ruling by the [[Supreme Court of Israel|Supreme Court]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=טוב |first=מיכאל האוזר |title=נתניהו פיטר את דרעי מתפקידיו בממשלה בעקבות פסיקת בג"ץ |url=https://www.haaretz.co.il/news/politi/2023-01-22/ty-article/.premium/00000185-ca27-d3a8-a3cf-cf37e93f0000 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20230123033602/https://www.haaretz.co.il/news/politi/2023-01-22/ty-article/.premium/00000185-ca27-d3a8-a3cf-cf37e93f0000 |archive-date=2023-01-23 |access-date=2025-09-06 |work=Haaretz |language=he}}</ref> He remained a member of the Knesset and the leader of Shas.<ref>{{Cite web |last=שמש |first=מיכאל |title=דרעי בשיחה סגורה: אם אדלשטיין יודח, ייתכן שנחזור לממשלה |url=https://www.kan.org.il/content/kan-news/politic/934605/ |access-date=2025-09-06 |website=www.kan.org.il |language=he}}</ref> Shas' ministers resigned from government in July 2025 over the government's failure to pass a law excluding ultraorthodox youth from the draft, but remain part of the coaltion.<ref>{{Cite news |last=פריד |first=שילֹה |date=2025-07-16 |title=המשבר הפוליטי: ש"ס פורשת מהממשלה |url=https://www.ynet.co.il/news/article/rknlxehlgg |access-date=2025-09-06 |work=Ynet |language=he}}</ref>

==Ideology==
{{Conservatism in Israel|Parties}}
The stated purpose of the party is to "return the crown to the former glory", meaning to protect the religious and cultural heritage of Sephardic Jewry and rectify what it sees as the "continued economic and social discrimination against the Sephardic population of Israel".<ref name="Knesset">{{cite web |url=https://www.knesset.gov.il/faction/eng/FactionPage_eng.asp?PG=2 |title=Shas |publisher=Knesset |access-date=21 December 2011 |archive-date=24 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220824160751/https://www.knesset.gov.il/faction/eng/FactionPage_eng.asp?PG=2 |url-status=live }}</ref> Focusing on the needs of Sephardic Orthodox Israelis, Shas established its own government-funded religious education system called MaAyan HaHinuch HaTorani, which became popular in poor Sephardic towns, increasing the party's popular support.<ref name="Forward">{{cite news |url=http://forward.com/news/israel/147999/shas-sets-up-shop-in-us/ |title=Shas Sets Up Shop in U.S. |work=The Jewish Daily Forward |date=20 December 2011 |last=Guttman |first=Nathan |access-date=17 June 2015 |archive-date=19 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150619050903/http://forward.com/news/israel/147999/shas-sets-up-shop-in-us/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Shas advocates for the increased influence of [[Halakha]], the Jewish religious law, in Israeli society, and actively engages in the [[Baal teshuva movement]], encouraging non-[[Orthodox Judaism|Orthodox]] Israelis of Sephardic and Mizrahi-Jewish heritage to adopt an Orthodox Jewish lifestyle. Shas is a Haredi religious party, but it has participated in left-wing governments and is often willing to compromise on both religious and economic issues.<ref name="Haaretz Guide"/>

At first, Shas followed a moderate policy on the [[Israeli–Palestinian conflict]], after Yosef had declared that lives were more important than territories,<ref name="EJ"/> but by the 2010s it had moved to the right, opposing any freeze in Israeli settlement activity in the [[West Bank]].<ref name="Forward"/> In addition, it was skeptical towards the U.S. [[Obama Administration]]'s intentions regarding the [[Israeli–Palestinian peace process]] and began to support a consolidation of [[Israeli settlement]] interests, especially regarding [[yeshiva]]s and Jewish holy sites in the West Bank. It further believes in a "United Jerusalem" and supports the [[Greater Jerusalem]] plan.{{clarify|reason=What is the "Greater Jerusalem P/plan?"|date=June 2015}} In 2010, Shas joined the [[World Zionist Organization]], having made significant changes to its charter.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/135611 |title=Hareidi Party Joins WZO, Former MK Yigal Bibi Will Represent |work=Arutz Sheva |date=20 January 2010 |last=Fendel |first=Hillel |access-date=21 December 2011 |archive-date=25 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325044144/http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/135611 |url-status=live }}</ref>

One of Shas's demands is a compensation package for Sephardi and Mizrahi Jews who were forced to flee their home countries and leave their property behind.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

Shas opposes any form of public expression of homosexuality, including [[Gay Pride]] parades, especially in [[Jerusalem]]. Shas MK [[Nissim Ze'ev]] accused the homosexual community of "carrying out the self-destruction of Israeli society and the Jewish people", calling homosexuals "a plague as toxic as [[Avian influenza|bird flu]]".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.haaretz.com/news/shas-mk-gays-are-causing-israeli-society-to-self-destruct-1.238216 |work=Haaretz |date=29 January 2008 |title=Shas MK: Gays are causing Israeli society to self-destruct |last=Ilan |first=Shahar |access-date=17 June 2015 |archive-date=19 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150619050243/http://www.haaretz.com/news/shas-mk-gays-are-causing-israeli-society-to-self-destruct-1.238216 |url-status=live }}</ref> However, the party condemns any form of violence against [[gay]] people.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3755455,00.html |work=Ynet News |date=2 August 2009 |title=Shas condemns attack on gay center |last=Meranda |first=Amnon |access-date=28 February 2018 |archive-date=28 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180228230130/https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3755455,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Controversies==
[[File:Ovadya Yosef.jpg|thumb|200px|[[Ovadiah Yosef]], long-time spiritual leader of Shas]]

Several Shas MKs, including [[Aryeh Deri]], [[Rafael Pinhasi]], [[Yair Levy]], [[Ofer Hugi]] and [[Yair Peretz]], have been convicted of criminal offenses that include fraud and forgery. In addition, MK [[Shlomo Benizri]] was convicted of bribery, conspiring to commit a crime and obstruction of justice on 1 April 2008.<ref>{{cite news |author=Ofra Edelman |url=https://www.haaretz.com/news/benizri-i-ve-been-persecuted-for-8-years-for-no-fault-of-my-own-1.243141 |title=Benizri: I've been persecuted for 8 years for no fault of my own |newspaper=Haaretz |date=1 April 2008 |access-date=17 June 2015 |archive-date=19 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150619050158/http://www.haaretz.com/news/benizri-i-ve-been-persecuted-for-8-years-for-no-fault-of-my-own-1.243141 |url-status=live }}</ref> 

In 2010, Ovadia Yosef cursed the Palestinians as "evil, bitter enemies of Israel" and said that, "[[Abu Mazen]] and all these evil people should perish from this world. God should strike them with a plague." [[Saeb Erekat]] of the PLO said Yosef's remarks were tantamount to a call for "genocide against Palestinians". Yosef later apologized and wrote to Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak: "I support your efforts and praise all the leaders and the peoples — Egyptians, Jordanians and Palestinians — who are partners and wish the success of this important process of achieving peace in our region, and preventing bloodshed. May God grant you longevity and may you succeed in your efforts for peace and may there be peace in our region."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/ovadia-yosef-atones-to-mubarak-after-declaring-palestinians-should-die-1.314243 |work=Haaretz |date=16 September 2010 |title=Ovadia Yosef atones to Mubarak after declaring Palestinians should die |last=Ettinger |first=Yair |access-date=21 December 2011 |archive-date=17 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317064227/http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/ovadia-yosef-atones-to-mubarak-after-declaring-palestinians-should-die-1.314243 |url-status=live }}</ref> Previously, Yosef had called Arabs "vipers" and called for Israel to "annihilate" them.<ref name="news.bbc.co.uk">{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/1270038.stm |title=Rabbi calls for annihilation of Arabs |publisher=BBC News |date=10 April 2001 |access-date=17 June 2015 |archive-date=24 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024023526/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/1270038.stm |url-status=live}}</ref> "It is forbidden to be merciful to them. You must send missiles to them and annihilate them. They are evil and damnable."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.haaretz.com/news/national/shas-spiritual-leader-abbas-and-palestinians-should-perish-1.310800 |title=Shas spiritual leader: Abbas and Palestinians should perish |work=Haaretz |date=29 August 2010 |access-date=21 December 2011 |archive-date=29 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111229071507/http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/shas-spiritual-leader-abbas-and-palestinians-should-perish-1.310800 |url-status=live }}</ref> A spokesman later clarified that his comments were only aimed at murderers and terrorists and not the entire Arab world.<ref name="news.bbc.co.uk" />

In 2020, the party was fined [[₪]]7,500 by the [[Central Elections Committee (Israel)|Central Elections Committee]] for handing out prayer cards at polling stations during the [[2020 Israeli legislative election|2020 Knesset elections]], which were claimed to cure "[[COVID-19|Corona]] and every illness and pestilence".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/shas-party-slapped-with-fine-for-anti-virus-charms/|title=Shas party slapped with fine for anti-virus charms|website=The Times of Israel|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-06|archive-date=6 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200306165436/https://www.timesofisrael.com/shas-party-slapped-with-fine-for-anti-virus-charms/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Women's campaign==
Women activists protested the lack of female representation in Shas by organizing a "[[Lo Nivcharot, Lo Bocharot|No Female Candidate, No Female Vote]]" campaign. The women said they would not vote for a party that does not include women candidates on its slate and sent an open letter to the Knesset representatives of ultra-Orthodox parties, which was also circulated on social media. Rabbi Mordechai Blau, a senior party member, threatened that women participating in the movement or bucking the party leadership would find their children "banned from Haredi schools" and their employers "boycotted by the community".<ref>{{cite news |last=Sommer |first=Allison Kaplan |title=Threats and backlash for ultra-Orthodox women seeking political voice |date=8 December 2014 |newspaper=Haaretz |url=https://www.haaretz.com/blogs/routine-emergencies/1.630630 |access-date=17 June 2015 |archive-date=16 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170816191547/http://www.haaretz.com/blogs/routine-emergencies/1.630630 |url-status=live }}</ref> Shas announced that it would create a women's council within the movement, a step that was welcomed by the campaigners. At the same time, they said: "We will move forward and call on the Haredi factions to enable women to serve as MKs in the Knesset."<ref>{{cite news |last=Nachshoni |first=Kobi |title=Ovadia Yosef's daughter: Shas is my home, I won't run for Knesset |date=14 December 2014 |publisher=Ynetnews |url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4603452,00.html |access-date=18 June 2015 |archive-date=1 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701075744/http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4603452,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Eli Yishai said on Israel Radio: "There is nothing in Jewish law that says you can't have a woman as a Knesset member. But our rabbis decide what they decide on every subject and the same goes for this."<ref>{{cite news |title=Haredi women fight for bigger role in politics |date=26 December 2014 |publisher=Ynetnews |agency=Associated Press |url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4608128,00.html |access-date=18 June 2015 |archive-date=1 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701070827/http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4608128,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

When a group of ultra-Orthodox women created their own party, [[U'Bizchutan]], Isaac Bezalel, the Shas spokesman, said: "The Haredi public is not yet open to women serving in the Knesset."<ref>{{cite news |author=Michele Chabin |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2015/02/28/israel-jerusalem-haredi-jewish-women-political-party/23892059/ |title=Israel's ultra-Orthodox Haredi women form political party |newspaper=USA Today |date=28 February 2015 |access-date=15 April 2021 |archive-date=23 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023003726/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2015/02/28/israel-jerusalem-haredi-jewish-women-political-party/23892059/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Knesset members==
[[File:Ballot2009 shas.jpg|thumb|150px|Shas party ballot 2009]]

Eleven men serve as members of the Knesset for Shas in the twenty-fifth Knesset:

#[[Aryeh Deri]]
#[[Ya'akov Margi]]
#[[Yoav Ben-Tzur]]
#[[Michael Malchieli]]
#[[Haim Biton]]
#[[Moshe Arbel]]
#[[Yinon Azulai]]
#[[Moshe Abutbul (politician)|Moshe Abutbul]]
#[[Uriel Buso]]
#[[Yosef Taieb]]
#[[Yonatan Mishraki]]

==Party leaders==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="3" | Leader
! Took office
! Left office
! colspan="2" |Spiritual Leader
! Took office
! Left office
|-
| style="background: {{party color|Shas}}; color: white" | '''1'''
| [[File:NissimZeev.JPG|70x96px]]
| [[Nissim Ze'ev]]
| 1982
| 1984
| rowspan="5" | [[File:Ovadia Yosef.jpg|70px]]
| rowspan="5" |[[Ovadia Yosef]]
| rowspan="5" |1982
| rowspan="5" |2013
|-
| style="background: {{party color|Shas}}; color: white" | '''2'''
| [[File:הרב יצחק פרץ (cropped).JPG|70px]]
| [[Yitzhak Peretz (politician born 1938)|Yitzhak Peretz]]
| 1984
| 1990
|-
| style="background: {{party color|Shas}}; color: white" | '''3'''
| [[File:Aryeh Deri.jpg|70px]]
| [[Aryeh Deri]]
| 1990
| 1999
|-
| style="background: {{party color|Shas}}; color: white" | '''4'''
| [[File:Eli Yishai 2009 (cropped).jpg|70px]]
| [[Eli Yishai]]
| 1999
| 2012
|-
| style="background: {{party color|Shas}}; color: white" | '''5'''
| [[File:Aryeh Deri (cropped).JPG|70x45px]] [[File:Eli Yishai 2009 (cropped).jpg|70x45px]]<br/>[[File:Ariel Atias (cropped).jpg|70x45px]] 
| ''[[Triumvirate]]''{{efn|name=Tri|[[Aryeh Deri]], [[Eli Yishai]] and [[Ariel Atias]]}}
| 2012
| 2013
|-
| style="background: {{party color|Shas}}; color: white" | '''(3)'''
| [[File:Aryeh Deri (cropped).JPG|70px]]
| [[Aryeh Deri]]
| 2013
| Incumbent
| [[File:ShalomCohen (cropped).jpg|70px]]
| [[Shalom Cohen (rabbi)|Shalom Cohen]]
| 2013
| 2022
|-
|}
{{notelist}}

==Election results==
{| class=wikitable style=text-align:center
!Election
!Leader
!Votes
!%
!Seats
!+/–
!Status
|-
|[[1984 Israeli legislative election|1984]]
|rowspan=2| [[Yitzhak Peretz (politician born 1938)|Yitzhak Haim Peretz]]
|63,605
|3.07
|{{Composition bar|4|120|{{party color|Shas}}}}
|
|{{yes2|Coalition}}
|-
|[[1988 Israeli legislative election|1988]]
|107,709
|4.72
|{{Composition bar|6|120|{{party color|Shas}}}}
|{{increase}} 2
|{{yes2|Coalition}}
|-
|rowspan=2|[[1992 Israeli legislative election|1992]]
|rowspan=4| [[Aryeh Deri]]
|rowspan=2|129,347
|rowspan=2|4.94
|rowspan=2|{{Composition bar|6|120|{{party color|Shas}}}}
|rowspan=2|{{steady}}
|{{yes2|Coalition}} {{small|(1992–1993)}}
|-
|{{no2|Opposition}} {{small|(1993–1996)}}
|-
|[[1996 Israeli general election|1996]]
|259,796
|8.51
|{{Composition bar|10|120|{{party color|Shas}}}}
|{{increase}} 4
|{{yes2|Coalition}}
|-
|[[1999 Israeli general election|1999]]
|430,676 
|13.01
|{{Composition bar|17|120|{{party color|Shas}}}}
|{{increase}} 7
|{{yes2|Coalition}}
|-
|[[2003 Israeli legislative election|2003]]
|rowspan=4| [[Eli Yishai]]
|258,879
|8.22
|{{Composition bar|11|120|{{party color|Shas}}}}
|{{decrease}} 6
|{{no2|Opposition}}
|-
|[[2006 Israeli legislative election|2006]]
|299,054
|9.53
|{{Composition bar|12|120|{{party color|Shas}}}}
|{{increase}} 1
|{{yes2|Coalition}}
|-
|[[2009 Israeli legislative election|2009]]
|286,300 	
|8.49
|{{Composition bar|11|120|{{party color|Shas}}}}
|{{decrease}} 1
|{{yes2|Coalition}}
|-
|[[2013 Israeli legislative election|2013]]
|331,868
|8.75
|{{Composition bar|11|120|{{party color|Shas}}}}
|{{steady}}
|{{no2|Opposition}}
|-
|[[2015 Israeli legislative election|2015]]
|rowspan=6| [[Aryeh Deri]]
|241,613
|5.73
| {{Composition bar|7|120|{{party color|Shas}}}}
|{{decrease}} 4
|{{yes2|Coalition}}
|-
|[[April 2019 Israeli legislative election|Apr 2019]]
|258,275
|5.99	
| {{Composition bar|8|120|{{party color|Shas}}}}
|{{increase}} 1
| {{partial2|Caretaker}}
|-
|[[September 2019 Israeli legislative election|Sep 2019]]
|329,834
|7.44
|{{Composition bar|9|120|{{party color|Shas}}}}
|{{increase}} 1
| {{partial2|Caretaker}}
|-
|[[2020 Israeli legislative election|2020]]
|352,842	
|7.69
|{{Composition bar|9|120|{{party color|Shas}}}}
|{{steady}}
|{{yes2|Coalition}}
|-
|[[2021 Israeli legislative election|2021]]
|316,008
|7.17
|{{Composition bar|9|120|{{party color|Shas}}}}
|{{steady}}
|{{no2|Opposition}}
|-
|[[2022 Israeli legislative election|2022]]
|392,644
|8.24
|{{Composition bar|11|120|{{party color|Shas}}}}
|{{increase}} 2
|{{yes2|Coalition}}
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Official website|http://www.shas.org.il}} {{in lang|he}}
*[https://www.knesset.gov.il/faction/eng/FactionPage_eng.asp?PG=2 Shas] Knesset website

{{Israeli political parties}}
{{OrthodoxJudaism}}
{{Mizrahi Jews topics}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Shas| ]]
[[Category:Ovadia Yosef]]
[[Category:Rabai Shech]]
[[Category:Haredi Judaism in Israel]]
[[Category:Orthodox Jewish political parties]]
[[Category:Sephardi Jewish culture in Israel]]
[[Category:Political parties established in 1984]]
[[Category:Mizrahi Jewish culture in Israel]]
[[Category:Conservative parties in Israel]]
[[Category:Socially conservative parties]]
[[Category:1984 establishments in Israel]]
[[Category:Right-wing politics in Israel]]
[[Category:Political parties in Israel]]
[[Category:Words and phrases in Modern Hebrew]]