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Parties / Netanyahu Bloc (37th Government Parties)

Shas ש"ס - התאחדות הספרדים העולמית שומרי תורה

8
MEF poll average, seats
7 to 10
range in window
11
seats now
Seats in every 2026 poll; line is a five-poll rolling mean; dotted line = threshold
Leader
Aryeh Deri, MK; Shas chairman; not a minister since the High Court disqualified him in January 2023 [source, 2023]
Bloc
Netanyahu bloc (37th government parties)
Founded
1984, before the 11th Knesset election, by Sephardi Haredi figures around Rabbi Ovadia Yosef (Israel Democracy Institute, https://en.idi.org.il/israeli-elections-and-parties/parties/...)
Seats, 25th Knesset
11
Status 2026
running alone. No reported merger talks. Deri's stated target is to repeat the 11 seats of 2022 (Emess, https://www.emess.co.il/radio/1922613, 2026-08-30). Polls cited by JFeed on 2026-09-02 put Shas and Otzma at similar seat counts (https://www.jfeed.com/news-israel/smotrich-feiglin-alliance-...).
List Status
Approved by the Central Elections Committee plenum on 2026-09-27; 119 candidates as of the CEC page last updated 2026-09-29. Ballot letters: שס. Ballot name: התאחדות הספרדים שומרי תורה תנועתו של מרן הרב עובדיה יוסף זצ"ל.
MEF Poll Average
8; range 7 to 10 across 7 polls in the window

Background

Shas was founded in 1984 to represent Sephardi Haredi Jews who felt under-represented in the Ashkenazi Agudat Yisrael; Rabbi Ovadia Yosef headed its Council of Torah Sages until his death in 2013 (IDI, https://en.idi.org.il/israeli-elections-and-parties/parties/...). It won 11 seats in November 2022 and joined the Netanyahu government (Israel Policy Forum, 2023). Deri was disqualified from ministerial office by the High Court in January 2023; coalition bills to override that ruling have been reported since (TOI, https://www.timesofisrael.com/bill-said-aiming-to-restore-de...). In 2026 the party lost MK Moshe Arbel, who resigned, and Yaakov Margi, who announced retirement (JPost https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/art..., 2026-05-17; INN https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/427532, 2026-05-24). A rift between Deri and Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef over the party's handling of the draft law was reported in July and August 2026 (TOI https://www.timesofisrael.com/top-shas-rabbi-signals-opennes..., 2026-07-11; Haaretz 2026-08-20).

Knesset List

Order and Hebrew names from the Central Elections Committee (CEC list page, 2026-09-29). Lists are as approved by the CEC plenum on September 27, 2026, with candidate resignations recorded since; ballot letters: שס. Party of record in brackets for joint lists. † marks names whose English spelling is transliterated from the filing rather than taken from English-language press.

  1. Aryeh Deri דרעי אריה מכלוף [source, September 29, 2026]
  2. Yinon Azoulay אזולאי ינון [source, September 29, 2026]
  3. Michael Malkieli מלכיאלי מיכאל משה [source, September 29, 2026]
  4. Yoav Ben Tzur בן צור יואב [source, September 29, 2026]
  5. Haim Biton ביטון חיים [source, September 29, 2026]
  6. Dror Amos עמוס דרור דוד [source, September 29, 2026]
  7. Moshe Abutbul אבוטבול משה [source, September 29, 2026]
  8. Uriel Buso בוסו אוריאל מנחם [source, September 29, 2026]
  9. Yosef Taieb טייב יוסף [source, September 29, 2026]
  10. Yonatan Mishraki מישרקי יונתן [source, September 29, 2026]
  11. Yosef Alnathanov אילנתנוב יוסי [source, September 29, 2026]
  12. Erez Malul מלול ארז [source, September 29, 2026]
  13. Semion Moshiashvili מושיאשוילי סימיון [source, September 29, 2026]
  14. Uriel Cohen † כהן אוריאל [source, September 29, 2026]
  15. Yaakov Yisrael Tzedaka † צדקה יעקב ישראל [source, September 29, 2026]
  16. Rafael Namni † נמני רפאל [source, September 29, 2026]
  17. Moshe Ben Naim † בן נאים משה [source, September 29, 2026]
  18. Eran Avihai Mashiach Rafael † רפאל ערן אביחי משיח [source, September 29, 2026]
  19. Binyamin Ariel Asher † אשר בנימין אריאל [source, September 29, 2026]
  20. Yosef Netanel Mor † מור יוסף נתנאל [source, September 29, 2026]
  21. Yehuda Bitbol † בוטבול יהודה [source, September 29, 2026]
  22. Yossi Yosef Haim Kakon † קקון יוסי יוסף חיים [source, September 29, 2026]
  23. Elhanan Zevulun † זבולון אלחנן [source, September 29, 2026]
  24. Yitzhak Almalach † אלמלח יצחק [source, September 29, 2026]
  25. Netanel Alfalas † אלפלס נתנאל [source, September 29, 2026]
  26. Avraham Avi Amsalem † אמסלם אברהם אבי [source, September 29, 2026]
  27. Rafael Cohen † כהן רפאל [source, September 29, 2026]
  28. Oren Gabay † גבאי אורן [source, September 29, 2026]
  29. Shlomo Elharar † אלחרר שלמה [source, September 29, 2026]
  30. Haim Saberli † סברלי חיים [source, September 29, 2026]
  31. Shlomo Ezran † עזרן שלמה [source, September 29, 2026]
  32. Beni Sitalkil † סיתאלכיל בני [source, September 29, 2026]
  33. Rafael Barnaz † ברנז רפאל [source, September 29, 2026]
  34. Yaakov David Marciano † מרציאנו יעקב דוד [source, September 29, 2026]
  35. Ami Biton † ביטון עמי [source, September 29, 2026]
  36. Maor Meir Ashash † אשש מאור מאיר [source, September 29, 2026]
  37. Eldad Pinchas Gadasi † גדסי אלדד פנחס [source, September 29, 2026]
  38. Yechiel Wachnin † וקנין יחיאל [source, September 29, 2026]
  39. Yigal Peretz † פרץ יגאל [source, September 29, 2026]
  40. Yaniv Hano † חנו יניב [source, September 29, 2026]
  41. Shlomo Malka † מלכה שלמה [source, September 29, 2026]
  42. Yaakov Admoni † אדמוני יעקב [source, September 29, 2026]
  43. Mordechai Vizgan † ויזגן מרדכי [source, September 29, 2026]
  44. Yitzhak Tangi † טנגי יצחק [source, September 29, 2026]
  45. Shlomo Zalman Suyunov † סויונוב שלמה זלמן [source, September 29, 2026]
  46. Yigal Kalfo Ashram † אשרם יגאל כלפו [source, September 29, 2026]
  47. Betzalel David † דוד בצלאל [source, September 29, 2026]
  48. Eliyahu David Shushan † שושן אליהו דוד [source, September 29, 2026]
  49. Naftali Cohen † כהן נפתלי [source, September 29, 2026]
  50. Yechiel Tzruya † צרויה יחיאל [source, September 29, 2026]
  51. Chaim Amron † אמרון חיים [source, September 29, 2026]
  52. Shmuel Marciano † מרציאנו שמואל [source, September 29, 2026]
  53. Tzvi Asulin † אסולין צבי [source, September 29, 2026]
  54. Ariel Yekutiel Golan † גולן אריאל יקותיאל [source, September 29, 2026]
  55. Yosef Chaim Mualem † מועלם יוסף חיים [source, September 29, 2026]
  56. Tal Matityahu † מתתיהו טל [source, September 29, 2026]
  57. Kfir Ovadia † עובדיה כפיר [source, September 29, 2026]
  58. Eli Ankonina † אנקונינה אלי [source, September 29, 2026]
  59. Yosef Ouknin † אוקנין יוסף [source, September 29, 2026]
  60. Menachem David † דוד מנחם [source, September 29, 2026]
  61. Shlomo Netanel Peretz † פרץ שלמה נתנאל [source, September 29, 2026]
  62. Chanan Gabi Zigdon † זיגדון חנן גבי [source, September 29, 2026]
  63. Eliyahu Karai † קרעי אליהו [source, September 29, 2026]
  64. Uri Ozen † אוזן אורי [source, September 29, 2026]
  65. Yaakov Yisrael Raboch † רבוך יעקב ישראל [source, September 29, 2026]
  66. Yitzhak Haddad † חדד יצחק [source, September 29, 2026]
  67. Avraham Sharvit † שרביט אברהם [source, September 29, 2026]
  68. Shlomo Haddad † חדד שלמה [source, September 29, 2026]
  69. Mordechai Chai Pinchasi † פנחסי מרדכי חי [source, September 29, 2026]
  70. Yosef Turgeman † תורגמן יוסף [source, September 29, 2026]
  71. Moshe Yefet † יפת משה [source, September 29, 2026]
  72. Yosef-Chaim Barnes † בראנס יוסף-חיים [source, September 29, 2026]
  73. Robert Reuven Kaikov † קייקוב רוברט ראובן [source, September 29, 2026]
  74. Yinon Matzliach † מצליח ינון [source, September 29, 2026]
  75. Ra'anan Kafri † כפרי רענן [source, September 29, 2026]
  76. Doron Shushan Taktouk † טקטוק דורון שושן [source, September 29, 2026]
  77. Efraim Efi Nimni † נימני אפריים אפי [source, September 29, 2026]
  78. Elad Menachem † מנחם אלעד [source, September 29, 2026]
  79. Reuven Yosef Pilo † פילו ראובן יוסף [source, September 29, 2026]
  80. Meir David Barnes † ברנס מאיר דוד [source, September 29, 2026]
  81. Yehuda Haim † חיים יהודה [source, September 29, 2026]
  82. Shalom Mamalia † ממליה שלום [source, September 29, 2026]
  83. Eliyahu David Bahaj † באחג' אליהו דוד [source, September 29, 2026]
  84. Malachi Boutbol † בוטבול מלאכי [source, September 29, 2026]
  85. Avraham Avital † אביטל אברהם [source, September 29, 2026]
  86. Yisrael Nadar † נדר ישראל [source, September 29, 2026]
  87. Yonatan Menachem † מנחם יונתן [source, September 29, 2026]
  88. Eliyahu Meir Balaish † בלעיש אליהו מאיר [source, September 29, 2026]
  89. Avtalyon Betzalely † בצלאלי אבטליון [source, September 29, 2026]
  90. Shai Kaziof † קזיוף שי [source, September 29, 2026]
  91. Adi Truzman † טרוזמן עדי [source, September 29, 2026]
  92. Yehuda Dnino † דנינו יהודה [source, September 29, 2026]
  93. Avraham Yisrael Attias † אטיאס אברהם ישראל [source, September 29, 2026]
  94. Avi Deri † דרעי אבי [source, September 29, 2026]
  95. Reuven Zagdon † זגדון ראובן [source, September 29, 2026]
  96. Yisrael Malayev † מלייב ישראל [source, September 29, 2026]
  97. Meir Yisrael Kakon † קקון מאיר ישראל [source, September 29, 2026]
  98. Dan Binyamin Abuhatzeira † אבוחצירא דן בנימין [source, September 29, 2026]
  99. Yaakov Dnino † דנינו יעקב [source, September 29, 2026]
  100. Shai Hakashuri † חקשורי שי [source, September 29, 2026]
  101. Asher Suissa † סויסה אשר [source, September 29, 2026]
  102. Ami Kalfon † כלפון עמי [source, September 29, 2026]
  103. Roi Cohen † כהן רועי [source, September 29, 2026]
  104. Avraham Hadad † חדד אברהם [source, September 29, 2026]
  105. Yaniv Abulafia HaCohen † אבולוף הכהן יניב [source, September 29, 2026]
  106. Asaf Nagar † נגר אסף [source, September 29, 2026]
  107. Shimon Avitan † אביטן שמעון [source, September 29, 2026]
  108. David Bansal † בנסל דוד [source, September 29, 2026]
  109. Amiel Kastoryano † קסטוריאנו עמיאל [source, September 29, 2026]
  110. Michael Davidov † דוידוב מיכאל [source, September 29, 2026]
  111. Avraham Nagar † נגר אברהם [source, September 29, 2026]
  112. David Avraki † אברקי דוד [source, September 29, 2026]
  113. Michael Yaniv † יניב מיכאל [source, September 29, 2026]
  114. Aharon Mordechai Cohen † כהן אהרן מרדכי [source, September 29, 2026]
  115. Eden Ben-Shitrit † בן-שטרית עדן [source, September 29, 2026]
  116. Shlomo Peretz † פרץ שלמה [source, September 29, 2026]
  117. Hagai Avital † אביטל חגי [source, September 29, 2026]
  118. Shmuel Hazan † חזן שמואל [source, September 29, 2026]
  119. Yaakov Margi † מרגי יעקב [source, September 29, 2026]

Platform and Positions

otherNo 2026 platform document found; shas.org.il did not respond on 2026-09-03. Items below are party or leader statements. [source, September 3, 2026]
Haredi draftParty statement via its newspaper: Shas will not join any future government unless the status of Torah students is resolved in law. [source, May 14, 2026]
Haredi draftCouncil of Torah Sages member Rabbi Moshe Maya, in a recording aired by i24: Shas should not join the next government on a promise but only after a yeshiva-student exemption law has passed. [source, August 30, 2026]
Haredi draftLeader statement. Deri said politicians should not call on Haredim to enlist and that 'an army that knows how to bomb Iran can deal with this as well. The army doesn't really want haredim.' [source, September 3, 2026]
otherLeader statement on bloc. Deri: 'We support Netanyahu, period. Eisenkot is leading a camp of hatred against everything Judaism stands for.' He said a broad Netanyahu-led government should follow the election. [source, July 17, 2026]
judiciaryParty statement. Shas announced support for the 'Ben Gvir Law' (formerly 'Deri Law 2') to bar the High Court from intervening in appointment or dismissal of ministers, while saying Deri does not intend to return to the cabinet. [source, February 23, 2026]
religion-stateCoalition agreement. The Basic Law on Torah Study was cut to a declarative clause: 'Torah study is a foundational value in the heritage of the Jewish people and in the State of Israel.' [source, July 9, 2026]
securityCampaign message. Shas's first 2026 video, 'Father's Life', showed a family with one son in the IDF and one in yeshiva; the Central Elections Committee chairman ordered it removed for using a soldier's image. [source, August 23, 2026]

Recent Moves

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