Deri established an 'investigation committee' to examine the election defeat: "Not to sugarcoat reality"

Shas chairman Aryeh Deri established an internal investigation committee to examine the party's devastating election defeat, in which it lost nearly half its strength. Deri demanded detailed data and sharp conclusions from representatives, emphasizing he does not want reports that sugarcoat reality. A party source said Shas has become a branch of the Jerusalemite faction.

Shas chairman Aryeh Deri established an internal 'investigation committee' to examine the stinging election defeat, in which the party lost nearly half its strength. Deri convened representatives from the movement, including from the municipal level, and tasked them with submitting within about a week detailed data on election results in their areas, analysis of the reasons for the decline, and conclusions for the future. He emphasized he does not want reports that sugarcoat reality and asked to receive the harshest conclusions. In internal party conversations, some believe the answers are clear: a party source told Walla that "we have become a branch of the Jerusalemite faction," and that the Haredi Shas has taken over the movement while traditional Shas has disappeared. According to him, the attempt to appeal to the traditional audience in the final stages of the campaign came too late. The party understands this is a deep identity crisis, and the central question is how to bring back traditional voters without losing the Haredi base.