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Date: 2015-10-07; view: 561.

SHAS

The ultra-Orthodox religious Shas party remains highly influential in Israeli politics. The party's name is an acronym for the Hebrew for Sephardic Guards. It has been described as a kingmaker, having given its support to coalition governments led by both Labour and Likud since it was founded in 1984. In the current parliament it controls 10 seats and holds four cabinet positions including the interior and housing ministers. Its strongest showing was in 1999 when it took 17 seats.

• Leaders: Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, Eli Yishai, Aryeh Deri
• Founded: 1984
• Politics: Sephardic Ultra-Orthodox religious party
• Number of members in 18th Knesset: 10

• Shas home page

Shas comes under the spiritual leadership of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, a former Israeli Sephardi chief rabbi, who heads the Council of Torah Sages. Now 92, he was recently briefly hospitalised after suffering a minor stroke.

The party was set up in 1984 to increase the representation of Sephardic Jews in the Knesset. The Shas slogan is "to return the crown to its ancient glory", meaning to lead Sephardic Jews back to religious observance and the cultural heritage of their forefathers. It works to end prejudice against the Sephardic community and highlights economic issues and social justice. During the election, Shas has used the campaign slogan "we're for those who have not".

While the party has indicated it would join another government headed by current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, tensions remain high between Shas and Likud. A 2013 budget must involve austerity measures but Shas leaders have opposed cuts to welfare, education and health services without a reduction to the defence budget.