According To A Report Israel’s ultra-Orthodox Shas Party is Expected to Endorse Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

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According to a report by the Times of Israel on Monday, November 2, 2026, Israel’s ultra-Orthodox Shas party is expected to endorse Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as the lawmaker who should be given the mandate to form the country’s next government, according to Hebrew media reports.

The party is reportedly preparing to submit its recommendation to President Isaac Herzog, despite earlier speculation that it might align itself more closely with the opposition bloc headed by Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar party.

Shas’s anticipated decision comes at a time when its political position following the election remains uncertain. The party’s chairman, Aryeh Deri, had previously stated that the group would not participate in or provide support for the next government unless it introduced legislation protecting broad military service exemptions for ultra-Orthodox students attending yeshivas.

This demand has continued to create disagreements between Shas and Netanyahu’s political allies, making its eventual participation in the next coalition uncertain. Although the party appears ready to recommend Netanyahu, its support remains tied to the resolution of the military service exemption issue.

During Netanyahu’s previous four-year government term, efforts to introduce legislation granting the exemptions requested by ultra-Orthodox parties were unsuccessful. Rather than passing a permanent law, the government approved a temporary arrangement designed to prevent the arrest of ultra-Orthodox men who had failed to undertake compulsory military service.

However, the temporary measure encountered legal difficulties after Israel’s High Court of Justice intervened and suspended its implementation. The ruling further complicated the government's efforts to address the demands of ultra-Orthodox political groups.

Consequently, Shas’s expected endorsement of Netanyahu should not automatically be interpreted as confirmation that the party will join his next coalition government. Its leadership is still expected to prioritise securing guarantees on military service exemptions before making a final commitment.

The issue is therefore likely to remain a significant factor in negotiations surrounding the formation of Israel’s next government, particularly as Netanyahu seeks to secure sufficient political support to establish a governing coalition.