Top Shas rabbi said looking to oust longtime leader Deri over poor election result

Shas spiritual leader Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef is reportedly seeking to oust party chairman Aryeh Deri after the party won just seven seats in Tuesday's election, its worst result since 2015. Channel 13 and Kan reported that Yosef plans to convene the Council of Torah Sages to discuss replacing Deri, though sources say it will be difficult.

Shas chairman Aryeh Deri is reportedly facing a challenge from the party's spiritual leader, former chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, after the ultra-Orthodox party won just seven seats in Tuesday's election, its worst result since 2015. Channel 13 and Kan reported that Yosef and his associates began steps on Wednesday to convene the Council of Torah Sages to discuss the poor showing and then demand that Yosef take over as its chair, setting the stage for Deri's removal. Deri's opponents argue that he misjudged the main challenger as Otzma Yehudit when most defectors went to Likud, and that he neglected the traditional Haredi base in favor of periphery and non-Haredi voters. However, sources told Kan that ousting Deri will be difficult as he is the party's 'sole ruler.' The losses came amid a bitter fight over Haredi military conscription, which Shas made central to its campaign. Deri has not publicly commented beyond a statement waiting for actual results.