Shas is reducing its ranks of solidarity, petting demands around haredi residency laws
Shas vowed to continue to inspire Yeshiva students, which the group describes as ‘the secret of the spiritual and historical existence of the Jewish people.’
The Israeli Orthodox SHAS Party announced on Thursday that it will resign from all coalition positions held in the Kositiset Party, however, it is stressed, it will not leave the coalition or bring down the government.
“In accordance with the agreement of the Council of Torah Scholars … According to that government should vote for a law to control the situation of the winter students of Knolition,” said the said group in a statement.
The omission affects several important posts. MK Yossi Taib, who is the chairman of the Education Committee, and the Chairman of the Health Committee, submitted their letters to Konset Speaker Alir Ohana. Mk Michael Malchieli also resigned as Chairman of the Committee to reduce vacancies in the Prenifhery.
Shas vowed to continue to inspire Yeshiva students, which the group describes as ‘the secret of the spiritual and historical existence of the Jewish people.’ This statement said that the party ‘will continue to lead the struggle against the persecution of the political campaign and the terror that was sold in the Torah day and night for the sake of all Jewish soldiers and for the success of the military. “
HARDI protesters demonstrate against the IDF’s illegal ban, September 18, 2025. (Credit: Yossi Zeigler)
Shas removes coalition positions over haredi draft
“When the situation of the Yeshiva students is controlled, the Shas will return to their positions in the government and Ndonsi. Until then, continue to contact the council of Torah scholars regarding its position in the Snuset Plenum votes.”
The move comes months after the United Torah Judaism (UTJ) Party suspended Predian Benjamin Neanyana Coalanu over a proposed law that would have imposed harsh sanctions on organized crime. While Shas had left his position in the Cabinet in July, he had retained the Chairmanship of his committee – a position of significant parliamentary influence.
This development follows the announcement by MK BOAZ BISMMUTH, the chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, that all discussions regarding the written law have been cancelled. Bismuth pointed to the need for more time to finalize legal advice and said it had consulted with Netanyahu on the matter.
The military began planning to arrest Yeshiva students after Israel’s Supreme Court ruled in 2024 that the emancipation of the Haredi community was illegal.
Hardi Orthodox men in Israel are generally exempt from mandatory military service if they study full-time in religious seminaries, known as Yeshivot. The issue has divided Israeli society, and remains politically sensitive, especially in times of war. Shas and Utj insist on maintaining this exemption as a matter of religious principle and social identity.
However, public opposition has grown. After two years of war, many Israelis view this policy as disproportionate.
Military service is compulsory for all citizens of Israel. However, Israel’s first prime minister, David Ben-gurion, and the country’s leading rabbis agreed to the regressive nature of military service for haredi sons, or religious institutions. At that time, there are no more than a few hundred men studying in Yeshivot.
The Orthodox community has grown significantly since the founding of Israel. In January 2023, the Central Bureau of Statistics reported that haredim are the fastest growing community in Israel and are projected to make up 16% of the population by the end of the decade. According to the Israel Democracy Institute, the number of Yeshiva students exceeded 138,000 in 2021.
Israel’s national elections are not due until October 2026.
