Shas fears significant vote leakage to Otzma Yehudit

Shas is concerned about a significant loss of votes to Otzma Yehudit, particularly among traditional young voters in cities like Be'er Sheva, Ashdod, and Netanya. In response, the president of the Council of Torah Sages, Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, issued a halachic ruling prohibiting support for Itamar Ben Gvir's party due to its encouragement of visits to the Temple Mount.

The battle between Shas and the Otzma Yehudit party over traditional right-wing voters is escalating. In recent weeks, Shas has identified a dangerous leakage of traditional and young Sephardic voters toward Itamar Ben Gvir's party, especially in cities such as Be'er Sheva, Ashdod, Netanya, and Beit Shemesh. Party sources say internal polls show Otzma Yehudit is eroding about two seats from Shas's natural voter base. In response, the president of the Council of Torah Sages, Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, published a halachic ruling titled "A Holy Call – and a Severe Warning," stating that it is forbidden by Jewish law to vote for Otzma Yehudit and the Zehut party, due to their encouragement of ascending the Temple Mount, which he says is a sin punishable by karet (spiritual excision). MK Yinon Azulai of Shas said the party identifies hesitation among the younger generation influenced by TikTok videos and hopes to bring them back home. Otzma Yehudit has not yet responded to the ruling.