{
  "id": 17085216,
  "title": "Shas officials blame hardline draft stance for one of party’s worst-ever election defeats",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/29/shas-officials-blame-hardline-draft-stance-for-one-of-partys-worst",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-29T16:16:51.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Jerusalem Post",
    "slug": "jerusalem-post",
    "url": "https://www.jpost.com/israel-election-2026/article-913262"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Shas, a prominent political party in Israel, is grappling with a historic electoral setback, facing its worst defeat in recent memory. The party's officials attribute the losses to its hardline stance on haredi military service, prompting calls for a major reevaluation of the party's direction. As the final vote tally confirms a reduction to potentially six Knesset seats, Shas finds itself grappling with a 30% decline in voter support. This defeat is particularly alarming, considering the party's historical resilience and expected growth, with the potential for 12 or even 13 seats in the 26th Knesset. Internal discussions within Shas have turned critical, with sharp criticism directed at the party's approach to the draft issue and its alignment with extremist elements, particularly Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef's opposition to mandatory military service. The party's leadership, however, remains steadfast, with chairman Arye Deri determined to steer Shas through this challenging period and lead its revival.",
  "summary": "Shas has lost about 30% of its voters since 2022, leaving the ultra-Orthodox party with barely half its previous representation.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}