Middle East Forum Israel Election 2026
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
Filed with the CEC on 2026-09-08; 120 candidates as submitted to the Central Elections Committee; not yet certified (CEC approval of lists due 2026-09-27). Ballot name: התאחדות הספרדים שומרי תורה תנועתו של מרן הרב עובדיה יוסף זצ"ל.
MEF poll average
8; range 7 to 10 across 15 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 as filed with the Central Elections Committee (CEC list page, 2026-09-08). Lists are as submitted and not yet certified; the CEC is due to approve lists on 27 September 2026. 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, 2026-09-08]
  2. Yinon Azoulay אזולאי ינון [source, 2026-09-08]
  3. Michael Malkieli מלכיאלי מיכאל משה [source, 2026-09-08]
  4. Yoav Ben Tzur בן צור יואב [source, 2026-09-08]
  5. Haim Biton ביטון חיים [source, 2026-09-08]
  6. Dror Amos עמוס דרור דוד [source, 2026-09-08]
  7. Moshe Abutbul אבוטבול משה [source, 2026-09-08]
  8. Uriel Buso בוסו אוריאל מנחם [source, 2026-09-08]
  9. Yosef Taieb טייב יוסף [source, 2026-09-08]
  10. Yonatan Mishraki מישרקי יונתן [source, 2026-09-08]
  11. Yosef Alnathanov אילנתנוב יוסי [source, 2026-09-08]
  12. Erez Malul מלול ארז [source, 2026-09-08]
  13. Semion Moshiashvili מושיאשוילי סימיון [source, 2026-09-08]
  14. Uriel Cohen † כהן אוריאל [source, 2026-09-08]
  15. Yaakov Yisrael Tzedaka † צדקה יעקב ישראל [source, 2026-09-08]
  16. Rafael Namni † נמני רפאל [source, 2026-09-08]
  17. Moshe Ben Naim † בן נאים משה [source, 2026-09-08]
  18. Eran Avihai Mashiach Rafael † רפאל ערן אביחי משיח [source, 2026-09-08]
  19. Binyamin Ariel Asher † אשר בנימין אריאל [source, 2026-09-08]
  20. Yosef Netanel Mor † מור יוסף נתנאל [source, 2026-09-08]
  21. Yehuda Bitbol † בוטבול יהודה [source, 2026-09-08]
  22. Yossi Yosef Haim Kakon † קקון יוסי יוסף חיים [source, 2026-09-08]
  23. Elhanan Zevulun † זבולון אלחנן [source, 2026-09-08]
  24. Yitzhak Almalach † אלמלח יצחק [source, 2026-09-08]
  25. Netanel Alfalas † אלפלס נתנאל [source, 2026-09-08]
  26. Avraham Avi Amsalem † אמסלם אברהם אבי [source, 2026-09-08]
  27. Rafael Cohen † כהן רפאל [source, 2026-09-08]
  28. Oren Gabay † גבאי אורן [source, 2026-09-08]
  29. Shlomo Elharar † אלחרר שלמה [source, 2026-09-08]
  30. Haim Saberli † סברלי חיים [source, 2026-09-08]
  31. Shlomo Ezran † עזרן שלמה [source, 2026-09-08]
  32. Beni Sitalkil † סיתאלכיל בני [source, 2026-09-08]
  33. Rafael Barnaz † ברנז רפאל [source, 2026-09-08]
  34. Yaakov David Marciano † מרציאנו יעקב דוד [source, 2026-09-08]
  35. Ami Biton † ביטון עמי [source, 2026-09-08]
  36. Maor Meir Ashash † אשש מאור מאיר [source, 2026-09-08]
  37. Eldad Pinchas Gadasi † גדסי אלדד פנחס [source, 2026-09-08]
  38. Yechiel Wachnin † וקנין יחיאל [source, 2026-09-08]
  39. Yigal Peretz † פרץ יגאל [source, 2026-09-08]
  40. Yaniv Hano † חנו יניב [source, 2026-09-08]
  41. Shlomo Malka † מלכה שלמה [source, 2026-09-08]
  42. Yaakov Admoni † אדמוני יעקב [source, 2026-09-08]
  43. Mordechai Vizgan † ויזגן מרדכי [source, 2026-09-08]
  44. Yitzhak Tangi † טנגי יצחק [source, 2026-09-08]
  45. Shlomo Zalman Suyunov † סויונוב שלמה זלמן [source, 2026-09-08]
  46. Yigal Kalfo Ashram † אשרם יגאל כלפו [source, 2026-09-08]
  47. Betzalel David † דוד בצלאל [source, 2026-09-08]
  48. Eliyahu David Shushan † שושן אליהו דוד [source, 2026-09-08]
  49. Naftali Cohen † כהן נפתלי [source, 2026-09-08]
  50. Yechiel Tzruya † צרויה יחיאל [source, 2026-09-08]
  51. Chaim Amron † אמרון חיים [source, 2026-09-08]
  52. Shmuel Marciano † מרציאנו שמואל [source, 2026-09-08]
  53. Tzvi Asulin † אסולין צבי [source, 2026-09-08]
  54. Ariel Yekutiel Golan † גולן אריאל יקותיאל [source, 2026-09-08]
  55. Yosef Chaim Mualem † מועלם יוסף חיים [source, 2026-09-08]
  56. Tal Matityahu † מתתיהו טל [source, 2026-09-08]
  57. Kfir Ovadia † עובדיה כפיר [source, 2026-09-08]
  58. Eli Ankonina † אנקונינה אלי [source, 2026-09-08]
  59. Yosef Ouknin † אוקנין יוסף [source, 2026-09-08]
  60. Menachem David † דוד מנחם [source, 2026-09-08]
  61. Shlomo Netanel Peretz † פרץ שלמה נתנאל [source, 2026-09-08]
  62. Chanan Gabi Zigdon † זיגדון חנן גבי [source, 2026-09-08]
  63. Eliyahu Karai † קרעי אליהו [source, 2026-09-08]
  64. Uri Ozen † אוזן אורי [source, 2026-09-08]
  65. Yaakov Yisrael Raboch † רבוך יעקב ישראל [source, 2026-09-08]
  66. Yitzhak Haddad † חדד יצחק [source, 2026-09-08]
  67. Avraham Sharvit † שרביט אברהם [source, 2026-09-08]
  68. Shlomo Haddad † חדד שלמה [source, 2026-09-08]
  69. Mordechai Chai Pinchasi † פנחסי מרדכי חי [source, 2026-09-08]
  70. Yosef Turgeman † תורגמן יוסף [source, 2026-09-08]
  71. Moshe Yefet † יפת משה [source, 2026-09-08]
  72. Yosef-Chaim Barnes † בראנס יוסף-חיים [source, 2026-09-08]
  73. Robert Reuven Kaikov † קייקוב רוברט ראובן [source, 2026-09-08]
  74. Yinon Matzliach † מצליח ינון [source, 2026-09-08]
  75. Ra'anan Kafri † כפרי רענן [source, 2026-09-08]
  76. Doron Shushan Taktouk † טקטוק דורון שושן [source, 2026-09-08]
  77. Efraim Efi Nimni † נימני אפריים אפי [source, 2026-09-08]
  78. Elad Menachem † מנחם אלעד [source, 2026-09-08]
  79. Reuven Yosef Pilo † פילו ראובן יוסף [source, 2026-09-08]
  80. Meir David Barnes † ברנס מאיר דוד [source, 2026-09-08]
  81. Yehuda Haim † חיים יהודה [source, 2026-09-08]
  82. Shalom Mamalia † ממליה שלום [source, 2026-09-08]
  83. Eliyahu David Bahaj † באחג' אליהו דוד [source, 2026-09-08]
  84. Malachi Boutbol † בוטבול מלאכי [source, 2026-09-08]
  85. Avraham Avital † אביטל אברהם [source, 2026-09-08]
  86. Yisrael Nadar † נדר ישראל [source, 2026-09-08]
  87. Yonatan Menachem † מנחם יונתן [source, 2026-09-08]
  88. Eliyahu Meir Balaish † בלעיש אליהו מאיר [source, 2026-09-08]
  89. Avtalyon Betzalely † בצלאלי אבטליון [source, 2026-09-08]
  90. Shai Kaziof † קזיוף שי [source, 2026-09-08]
  91. Adi Truzman † טרוזמן עדי [source, 2026-09-08]
  92. Yehuda Dnino † דנינו יהודה [source, 2026-09-08]
  93. Avraham Yisrael Attias † אטיאס אברהם ישראל [source, 2026-09-08]
  94. Avi Deri † דרעי אבי [source, 2026-09-08]
  95. Reuven Zagdon † זגדון ראובן [source, 2026-09-08]
  96. Yisrael Malayev † מלייב ישראל [source, 2026-09-08]
  97. Meir Yisrael Kakon † קקון מאיר ישראל [source, 2026-09-08]
  98. Dan Binyamin Abuhatzeira † אבוחצירא דן בנימין [source, 2026-09-08]
  99. Yaakov Dnino † דנינו יעקב [source, 2026-09-08]
  100. Shai Hakashuri † חקשורי שי [source, 2026-09-08]
  101. Asher Suissa † סויסה אשר [source, 2026-09-08]
  102. Ami Kalfon † כלפון עמי [source, 2026-09-08]
  103. Roi Cohen † כהן רועי [source, 2026-09-08]
  104. Avraham Hadad † חדד אברהם [source, 2026-09-08]
  105. Yaniv Abulafia HaCohen † אבולוף הכהן יניב [source, 2026-09-08]
  106. Asaf Nagar † נגר אסף [source, 2026-09-08]
  107. Shimon Avitan † אביטן שמעון [source, 2026-09-08]
  108. David Bansal † בנסל דוד [source, 2026-09-08]
  109. Amiel Kastoryano † קסטוריאנו עמיאל [source, 2026-09-08]
  110. Michael Davidov † דוידוב מיכאל [source, 2026-09-08]
  111. Avraham Nagar † נגר אברהם [source, 2026-09-08]
  112. David Avraki † אברקי דוד [source, 2026-09-08]
  113. Michael Yaniv † יניב מיכאל [source, 2026-09-08]
  114. Aharon Mordechai Cohen † כהן אהרן מרדכי [source, 2026-09-08]
  115. Eden Ben-Shitrit † בן-שטרית עדן [source, 2026-09-08]
  116. Shlomo Peretz † פרץ שלמה [source, 2026-09-08]
  117. Itzik Hogi † חוגי איציק [source, 2026-09-08]
  118. Hagai Avital † אביטל חגי [source, 2026-09-08]
  119. Shmuel Hazan † חזן שמואל [source, 2026-09-08]
  120. Yaakov Margi † מרגי יעקב [source, 2026-09-08]

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, 2026-09-03]
Haredi draftParty statement via its newspaper: Shas will not join any future government unless the status of Torah students is resolved in law. [source, 2026-05-14]
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, 2026-08-30]
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, 2026-09-03]
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, 2026-07-17]
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, 2026-02-23]
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, 2026-07-09]
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, 2026-08-23]

Recent moves

What MEF has published

Not verified

Sources