First Publication: Shas Searching for Candidate with Military Background for Knesset | Ari Kalman

Shas is searching for a candidate with a military background for its Knesset list, following the retirement of MKs Arbel and Margi and the controversy surrounding the party's election video. The understanding within the party is that a candidate is needed who will retain the traditional audience and meet the campaign's needs.

Shas is searching for a candidate with a military background for its Knesset list, as first reported in the main edition of i24NEWS. The search comes against the backdrop of the retirement of MKs Moshe Arbel and Yaakov Margi, and there is an understanding within the party that a candidate is needed who will retain the traditional Shas audience and also meet the campaign's needs. This follows the controversy surrounding the party's election video, which depicts a soldier returning home and drew criticism from families of hostages and fallen soldiers. Chairman of the Central Elections Committee, Judge Noam Sohlberg, ordered the party to delete the video. Party chairman Aryeh Deri claimed in the video that over 30,000 soldiers and career personnel voted for Shas in the last elections. MK Yaakov Margi announced his retirement from political life in April but is expected to remain in the Knesset until the end of the last session.