Shas party chairman Aryeh Deri announced his resignation from the party’s Knesset list for the 26th Knesset, making clear he will not serve as a regular member of the 26th Knesset. Alongside Deri, Knesset member Moshe Abutbul and candidate Dror Amos also announced their resignations.
Following the wave of resignations, Knesset members Uriel Bosso and Yossi Tayeb will enter the parliament. The move leads to a significant change in the composition of the ultra-Orthodox faction in the Knesset.
Deri explained his decision today to step down from the party’s list, clarifying that he intends to continue leading the movement and overseeing its parliamentary activity, even without serving as a Member of Knesset. In a statement released following the news of his departure, Deri revealed that he had received approval from the Council of Torah Sages to vacate his spot in favor of younger representatives. He added that he plans to focus on strengthening ties with the public, party activists, and representatives across the country.
In his statement, Deri addressed a decision made last week by the Council of Torah Sages, in which the rabbis instructed him to remain at the helm of Shas—despite his own desire to step down from the movement’s leadership following the election results. “Last week, the esteemed rabbis of the Council of Torah Sages instructed me to continue serving as Chairman of the Shas movement. I accepted their directive without hesitation, and we have already begun working with full vigor,” he stated.