Shas Says it’s Still in Right Wing Bloc After Quitting Knesset Committee Posts

Shas announced Thursday that it is relinquishing all of its Knesset committee chairmanships in protest of the government’s failure to pass a draft exemption law for yeshiva students.

Former Religious Services Minister Michael Malkieli emphasized that despite the move, the Sephardic Charedi party remains firmly within the right-wing bloc.

“We are in the coalition,” Malkieli said. “Shas is a party that is in the right-wing bloc, built the right-wing bloc, and will maintain the right-wing bloc.”

Speaking at a Makor Rishon conference, Malkieli explained that the resignations were intended as a signal to the government. “There was a decision to resign from the government and this morning we resigned from the committees because there was no progress, and we hope that a way will be found to return,” he said.

Shas’ announcement increases pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to move forward with legislation clarifying the exemption status of yeshiva students. The proposed law has faced criticism from the opposition, which derides it as an “evasion law” enabling Charedi men to avoid IDF service.

While Shas has stepped back from its parliamentary roles, it has stopped short of quitting the coalition or seeking to topple the government.

The latest move follows Shas’ withdrawal from the government in July over stepped-up enforcement against draft evasion and the continued failure to advance the conscription bill. That decision came after United Torah Judaism also exited the coalition entirely, leaving Netanyahu’s government under growing strain from its Charedi partners.