Shas Backs Netanyahu for Prime Minister After Commitment to Protect Yeshiva Bochurim
Shas’s Moetzes Chachmei HaTorah has decided to recommend Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to President Isaac Herzog to form Israel’s next government, following Netanyahu’s public commitment to advance legislation protecting the status of yeshiva bochurim who are dedicated to learning Torah.
The decision, announced Tuesday, represents a significant development in the negotiations to establish a new coalition following last week’s Knesset election. It comes amid efforts by opposition parties to attract support from the chareidi factions, whose representatives could play a decisive role in determining who will form the next government.
According to Shas, the decision was reached after Netanyahu reaffirmed his intention to pursue a legislative arrangement addressing the status of bnei yeshivos and their military service obligations.
“In light of Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu’s clear and unequivocal statement reaffirming his continued support and commitment to regulating the status of Torah scholars, the Shas Council of Torah Sages has decided to recommend him to the President as its candidate to form the government,” the party announced.
The announcement followed a statement by Netanyahu criticizing opposition leaders who had met earlier in Herzliya and agreed not to rule out coalition negotiations with the chareidi parties.
Netanyahu accused the opposition of abandoning its campaign rhetoric against the chareidi community now that its leaders were seeking the parliamentary support necessary to establish a government.
“The hypocrisy we are witnessing now is outrageous. Suddenly, it’s no longer a ‘draft evasion law,’ but a ‘soft conscription law.’ Suddenly, they are no longer ‘parasites,’ ‘draft dodgers,’ or ‘destroyers of the state,’ but are being given a completely clean slate,” Netanyahu said.
The prime minister maintained that his position on the draft issue had not changed. He pledged to continue promoting legislation that would enable full-time yeshiva bochurim and kollel yungeleit to remain devoted to limud haTorah, while providing for the enlistment of chareidi men who are not studying in yeshivos.
Shas also condemned what it described as years of hostility toward the chareidi community by opposition politicians, accusing them of reversing their positions for political advantage.
In its statement, the party charged that left-wing leaders had conducted an unprecedented campaign of vilification and persecution against the chareidi public and lomdei Torah, whom it described as the foundation of the Jewish people’s continued existence.
Meanwhile, United Torah Judaism has not yet announced which candidate it will recommend. Netanyahu spoke Tuesday morning with UTJ chairman MK Yaakov Asher, who reportedly informed him that the party would wait for the return of Gedolei Yisroel from their trip abroad before making a decision.
During the conversation, Netanyahu reiterated his commitment to completing the draft legislation and warned against the establishment of a government dependent on parties he accused of supporting terrorism.
UTJ’s position has attracted particular attention because opposition leaders, including Gadi Eisenkot, Naftali Bennett, Yair Lapid and Avigdor Lieberman, are exploring ways to form a government without Netanyahu. Their discussions have included the possibility of securing support from chareidi lawmakers despite their previous opposition to arrangements protecting yeshiva students from conscription.
Religious Zionism, headed by Bezalel Smotrich, also announced Tuesday that it would recommend Netanyahu to Herzog. The party called for the formation of a broad Jewish coalition under Netanyahu’s leadership, arguing that he heads both the largest individual party and the largest parliamentary bloc.
Otzma Yehudit, led by Itamar Ben Gvir, similarly confirmed that it would support Netanyahu for another term as prime minister.
According to the current seat distribution, Netanyahu’s bloc holds 53 mandates, while Eisenkot’s opposition alliance has 48 and the Arab parties control 19. Neither side has the 61 seats necessary to command a majority in the 120-member Knesset.
