Tayyar.

IL flag Israel party

Shas

شاس ש״ס

Sephardic Haredi party, founded under the spiritual leadership of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef. A consistent coalition partner across decades of Israeli governments.

Family
religious jewish
Standing
Coalition (major)
Review
Verified
Model it
election machine
Founded
1984
Current leader
Aryeh Deri
Founders
Ovadia Yosef; Aryeh Deri; Nissim Ze'ev

Position — compass as of 2026-06-10

Economic
-5.0 state-leaning
Social
-8.5 authority-leaning
Quadrant
authoritarian statist

First-pass hand-coded estimate; pending second-pass external review. See methodology for the rubric.

In Israel
-10 -10 -5 -5 5 5 10 10 Libertarian · Statist Libertarian · Market Authority · Statist Authority · Market 7 parties 4 parties 4 parties 4 parties religious-jewish centroid · 5 parties secular-liberal centroid · 3 parties nationalist-ethnic centroid · 4 parties leftist-socdem centroid · 3 parties leftist-communist centroid · 2 parties islamist-sunni-electoral centroid · 2 parties ← Statist Market → Libertarian ↑ ↓ Authority Social ↕ Economic ↔ Religious Zionism Party (IL) · in government · Economic +3.5, Social -8.0 IL Religious Zionism Party Shas (IL) · in government · Economic -5.0, Social -8.5 IL Shas New Hope (IL) · in government · Economic +5.5, Social +2.0 IL New Hope Noam (IL) · in government · Economic +1.0, Social -9.0 IL Noam Yisrael Beiteinu (IL) · Economic +6.0, Social +4.0 IL Yisrael Beiteinu Ta'al (IL) · Economic -3.0, Social +4.0 IL Ta'al National Unity (IL) · Economic +3.0, Social +4.0 IL National Unity Meretz (IL) · Economic -3.0, Social +6.0 IL Meretz The Democrats (IL) · Economic -2.0, Social +8.0 IL The Democrats Balad (IL) · Economic -4.0, Social +5.0 IL Balad Israeli Labor Party (IL) · Economic -3.0, Social +5.8 IL Israeli Labor Party Hadash-Ta'al (IL) · Economic -6.0, Social +6.0 IL Hadash-Ta'al Likud (IL) · in government · Economic +6.0, Social -2.0 IL Likud Otzma Yehudit (IL) · in government · Economic +2.0, Social -8.0 IL Otzma Yehudit Northern Islamic Movement (IL) · outlawed · Economic -3.0, Social -7.0 IL Northern Islamic Movement United Torah Judaism (IL) · in government · Economic -5.0, Social -9.0 IL United Torah Judaism Hadash (IL) · Economic -8.0, Social +6.5 IL Hadash Ra'am (United Arab List) (IL) · Economic -2.0, Social -6.0 IL Ra'am (United Arab List) Yesh Atid (IL) · Economic +4.0, Social +7.0 IL Yesh Atid
Among religious jewish parties · 5
-10 -10 -5 -5 5 5 10 10 Libertarian · Statist Libertarian · Market Authority · Statist Authority · Market 2 parties 3 parties religious-jewish centroid · 5 parties ← Statist Market → Libertarian ↑ ↓ Authority Social ↕ Economic ↔ Religious Zionism Party (IL) · in government · Economic +3.5, Social -8.0 Religious Zionism Party Shas (IL) · in government · Economic -5.0, Social -8.5 Shas Noam (IL) · in government · Economic +1.0, Social -9.0 Noam Otzma Yehudit (IL) · in government · Economic +2.0, Social -8.0 Otzma Yehudit United Torah Judaism (IL) · in government · Economic -5.0, Social -9.0 United Torah Judaism
In the region · 83
-10 -10 -5 -5 5 5 10 10 Libertarian · Statist Libertarian · Market Authority · Statist Authority · Market 23 parties 11 parties 19 parties 30 parties secular-liberal centroid · 12 parties religious-jewish centroid · 5 parties leftist-socdem centroid · 9 parties islamist-sunni-electoral centroid · 13 parties nationalist-arab centroid · 14 parties leftist-communist centroid · 12 parties nationalist-ethnic centroid · 5 parties islamist-shia centroid · 5 parties religious-christian centroid · 3 parties islamist-militant centroid · 3 parties islamist-salafi centroid · 2 parties ← Statist Market → Libertarian ↑ ↓ Authority Social ↕ Economic ↔ New Wafd Party (EG) · Economic +5.0, Social +3.0 New Wafd Party Religious Zionism Party (IL) · in government · Economic +3.5, Social -8.0 Religious Zionism Party Shas (IL) · in government · Economic -5.0, Social -8.5 Shas Socialist Forces Front (DZ) · Economic -4.0, Social +4.0 Socialist Forces Front Socialist Union of Popular Forces (MA) · Economic -4.0, Social +4.0 Socialist Union of Popular Forces New Hope (IL) · in government · Economic +5.5, Social +2.0 New Hope Noam (IL) · in government · Economic +1.0, Social -9.0 Noam Ennahda (TN) · Economic +2.0, Social -5.0 Ennahda Southern Transitional Council (YE) · in government · Economic +3.5, Social -2.0 Southern Transitional Council Sudanese Communist Party (SD) · Economic -8.0, Social +6.0 Sudanese Communist Party Syrian National Coalition (SY) · Economic +5.0, Social +1.0 Syrian National Coalition Yisrael Beiteinu (IL) · Economic +6.0, Social +4.0 Yisrael Beiteinu Ta'al (IL) · Economic -3.0, Social +4.0 Ta'al National Unity (IL) · Economic +3.0, Social +4.0 National Unity Free Egyptians Party (EG) · Economic +8.0, Social +5.5 Free Egyptians Party Meretz (IL) · Economic -3.0, Social +6.0 Meretz The Democrats (IL) · Economic -2.0, Social +8.0 The Democrats Tunisian Workers Party (TN) · Economic -9.0, Social +5.0 Tunisian Workers Party Workers' Party (DZ) · Economic -9.0, Social +3.5 Workers' Party Yemeni Congregation for Reform (Islah) (YE) · in government · Economic +2.5, Social -7.0 Yemeni Congregation for Reform (Islah) Yemeni Socialist Party (YE) · Economic -6.0, Social +5.0 Yemeni Socialist Party People's Movement (TN) · Economic -6.0, Social +1.0 People's Movement Amal Movement (LB) · in government · Economic -3.5, Social -6.0 Amal Movement Ansar Allah (Houthis) (YE) · in government · Economic -6.0, Social -8.0 Ansar Allah (Houthis) Ba'ath Party (Syria) (SY) · dissolved · Economic -6.5, Social -0.5 Ba'ath Party (Syria) Balad (IL) · Economic -4.0, Social +5.0 Balad Democratic Unionist Party (SD) · Economic +2.5, Social -4.0 Democratic Unionist Party El Insaf (Equity Party) (MR) · in government · Economic +2.8, Social -6.0 El Insaf (Equity Party) Fatah (PS) · in government · Economic +1.5, Social -1.5 Fatah Free Patriotic Movement (LB) · in government · Economic +2.0, Social -2.0 Free Patriotic Movement Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (SY) · in government · Economic +2.5, Social -8.0 Hayat Tahrir al-Sham Islamic Salvation Front (DZ) · outlawed · Economic -3.0, Social -9.0 Islamic Salvation Front Israeli Labor Party (IL) · Economic -3.0, Social +5.8 Israeli Labor Party Movement of Society for Peace (DZ) · Economic +0.0, Social -7.0 Movement of Society for Peace Justice and Construction Party (LY) · Economic +0.0, Social -6.5 Justice and Construction Party Authenticity and Modernity Party (MA) · in government · Economic +5.0, Social +4.0 Authenticity and Modernity Party Istiqlal Party (MA) · in government · Economic +2.0, Social -4.0 Istiqlal Party Kataeb Party (LB) · Economic +5.0, Social -1.5 Kataeb Party National Umma Party (SD) · Economic +2.0, Social -3.0 National Umma Party Hadash-Ta'al (IL) · Economic -6.0, Social +6.0 Hadash-Ta'al Justice and Development Party (MA) · Economic +3.0, Social -6.0 Justice and Development Party Hamas (PS) · in government · Economic -3.0, Social -8.0 Hamas Kurdistan Democratic Party (IQ) · in government · Economic +4.0, Social -3.0 Kurdistan Democratic Party Likud (IL) · in government · Economic +6.0, Social -2.0 Likud National Liberation Front (DZ) · in government · Economic -5.0, Social -3.0 National Liberation Front National Rally for Reform and Development (Tewassoul) (MR) · Economic -1.0, Social -8.0 National Rally for Reform and Development (Tewassoul) Long Live Tunisia (TN) · Economic +6.0, Social +4.0 Long Live Tunisia National Rally of Independents (MA) · in government · Economic +8.0, Social +3.0 National Rally of Independents National Forces Alliance (LY) · Economic +6.0, Social +3.0 National Forces Alliance National Wisdom Movement (IQ) · in government · Economic +1.0, Social -4.0 National Wisdom Movement Reform Party (JO) · Economic +2.5, Social -2.0 Reform Party Otzma Yehudit (IL) · in government · Economic +2.0, Social -8.0 Otzma Yehudit Mubadara (PS) · Economic -0.5, Social +4.5 Mubadara Northern Islamic Movement (IL) · outlawed · Economic -3.0, Social -7.0 Northern Islamic Movement Freedom and Justice Party (EG) · dissolved · Economic +2.0, Social -7.5 Freedom and Justice Party Islamic Action Front (JO) · Economic -1.0, Social -8.0 Islamic Action Front Al-Menbar Islamic Society (BH) · Economic +3.0, Social -7.5 Al-Menbar Islamic Society Hezbollah (LB) · in government · Economic -5.0, Social -8.0 Hezbollah Jordanian Communist Party (JO) · Economic -9.0, Social +5.5 Jordanian Communist Party Al-Wefaq National Islamic Society (BH) · dissolved · Economic -2.0, Social -6.0 Al-Wefaq National Islamic Society State of Law Coalition (IQ) · in government · Economic -3.5, Social -6.0 State of Law Coalition Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PS) · Economic -4.0, Social -9.0 Palestinian Islamic Jihad Nour Party (EG) · Economic +2.5, Social -9.0 Nour Party Islamic Asalah Society (BH) · in government · Economic +3.0, Social -9.0 Islamic Asalah Society United Torah Judaism (IL) · in government · Economic -5.0, Social -9.0 United Torah Judaism Lebanese Forces (LB) · Economic +5.0, Social -1.0 Lebanese Forces Mostaqbal Watan (EG) · in government · Economic +3.0, Social -4.0 Mostaqbal Watan Sairoon Alliance (IQ) · Economic -2.0, Social -6.0 Sairoon Alliance Democratic National Rally (DZ) · in government · Economic -2.0, Social -4.0 Democratic National Rally National Charter Party (JO) · in government · Economic +3.5, Social -3.0 National Charter Party General People's Congress (YE) · Economic -2.0, Social -4.0 General People's Congress Free Destourian Party (TN) · Economic +1.0, Social -1.0 Free Destourian Party PFLP (PS) · Economic -9.0, Social +4.0 PFLP Tagammu Party (EG) · Economic -7.0, Social +4.0 Tagammu Party Hadash (IL) · Economic -8.0, Social +6.5 Hadash Union of Forces of Progress (MR) · Economic -5.5, Social +4.0 Union of Forces of Progress DFLP (PS) · Economic -8.0, Social +4.5 DFLP Egyptian Social Democratic Party (EG) · Economic -2.5, Social +5.0 Egyptian Social Democratic Party Palestinian People's Party (PS) · Economic -8.0, Social +5.0 Palestinian People's Party Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (IQ) · in government · Economic +2.0, Social -2.0 Patriotic Union of Kurdistan Progressive Socialist Party (LB) · in government · Economic -4.0, Social +4.0 Progressive Socialist Party Ra'am (United Arab List) (IL) · Economic -2.0, Social -6.0 Ra'am (United Arab List) Yesh Atid (IL) · Economic +4.0, Social +7.0 Yesh Atid

Across the dataset

Open full comparison →

Nearest

Closest by average Euclidean distance across all axes.

  1. United Torah Judaism IL Δ 0.81 vs
  2. Religious Zionism Party IL Δ 3.28 vs
  3. Otzma Yehudit IL Δ 3.38 vs
  4. Noam IL Δ 4.59 vs

Most divergent

Farthest by the same metric. Useful for "anti-axis" framing.

  1. Hadash-Ta'al IL Δ 12.68 vs
  2. Hadash IL Δ 12.22 vs
  3. Sudanese Communist Party SD Δ 11.94 vs
  4. Tunisian Workers Party TN Δ 11.75 vs

Position — all axes

Economic → Market Social → Libertarian State & religion → Secular state Liberal democracy → Strong commitment West alignment → Pro-Western Regional stance → Stability/normalization Palestinian question → Pro-Palestinian rights Civil liberties → Expand Regime stance → pro-regime Centralism vs federalism → federalist Traditionalism vs modernization → modernizing Gender equality → Gender equality Iran posture → Pro-Iran / aligned Press freedom → Free press
Shas Israel mean
Economic
-5.0
Statist ← → Market
Social
-8.5
Authority ← → Libertarian
State & religion
-9.0
Religious state ← → Secular state
Liberal democracy
-3.5
Weak/anti ← → Strong commitment
West alignment
+5.5
Anti-Western ← → Pro-Western
Regional stance
+4.5
Resistance/maximalist ← → Stability/normalization
Palestinian question
-5.0
Opposed ← → Pro-Palestinian rights
Civil liberties
-4.0
Restrict ← → Expand
Regime stance
+6.0
anti-regime ← → pro-regime
Centralism vs federalism
-4.0
centralist ← → federalist
Traditionalism vs modernization
-7.0
traditionalist ← → modernizing
Gender equality
-7.5
Patriarchal traditionalism ← → Gender equality
Iran posture
—
Anti-Iran / adversarial ← → Pro-Iran / aligned
Press freedom
-3.0
State-controlled press ← → Free press

Members & affiliated figures

Politicians currently identified with this party — leaders, ministers, MPs, and other active figures. All affiliated politicians →

Associated legislation

Bills this party introduced, championed, or whose passage / blocking it's publicly associated with. Status indicates the bill's parliamentary outcome. All Israel bills →

Recent events

Political events involving this party — formations, mergers, leadership changes, designation shifts. All events at /pulse →

  • Confirmed Other January 18, 2023

    High Court disqualifies Shas leader Deri as minister; Netanyahu dismisses him

    On 18 January 2023 an expanded 11-justice panel of the High Court of Justice ruled 10–1 that Aryeh Deri's appointment as interior and health minister was "unreasonable in the extreme," citing his January 2022 plea bargain for tax offences (in which he had signalled he was leaving political life) and his prior convictions. Prime Minister Netanyahu dismissed Deri from the cabinet on 22 January 2023, though Deri remained Shas leader and a power-broker in the coalition.

  • Confirmed Coalition formed December 29, 2022

    Shas and UTJ join the 37th Netanyahu government

    The ultra-Orthodox parties Shas (11 seats) and United Torah Judaism (7 seats) entered Israel's 37th government, sworn in on 29 December 2022 — the most right-wing/religious coalition in the country's history, alongside Likud and Religious Zionism/Otzma Yehudit. Their coalition agreements secured large yeshiva and Haredi-sector budgets, the "Deri Law," and commitments on conscription and religion-state matters. UTJ's Yitzhak Goldknopf became housing minister and Shas's Deri was slated for interior/health.

  • Confirmed Figure imprisoned September 2000

    Shas founder Aryeh Deri imprisoned for bribery

    Aryeh Deri, founding leader of Shas, was convicted in 1999 of taking about $155,000 in bribes, fraud and breach of trust committed while he served as interior minister, and sentenced to three years. He entered Maasiyahu Prison in September 2000 and was released in July 2002 after serving 22 months; the parole board barred him from political activity for one year. He returned to lead Shas in 2013.

Declared vs. behavioral

For the axes below, this party's declared position (what the party says in its platform / official rhetoric) diverges from its behavioral position (its record of votes, coalition choices, or public actions). The spread itself is the methodological point — capturing the gap that a single composite score collapses.

Lens spreads are currently hand-coded on a curated set of cases where the gap is well-documented. Document-grounded scoring against the party's own platform documents (declared) and its voting / coalition record (behavioral) will scale this across the dataset. See methodology for the full lens-system roadmap.

Source documents

Texts the scoring pipeline reads — manifestos, speeches, platforms. Each document's verbatim content backs the position score above; the model cites specific phrases from these texts when scoring. All documents →

Sources

Per-field citations for the verified claims above. Other fields (notably the compass scores) remain hand-coded priors and are marked unverified until they pass the methodology pipeline — see methodology.

  • founded_year en.wikipedia.org 2026-06-06 Founded 1984 by Rabbi Ovadia Yosef as the Sephardi-Haredi political voice
  • founders_text en.wikipedia.org 2026-06-06 Founded by Rabbi Ovadia Yosef (1920-2013)
  • current_leader_text en.wikipedia.org 2026-06-06 Aryeh Deri has led Shas since 2013 (second tenure)

How to cite

Each record carries a retrieval date because the dataset is live — individual entries update as verification deepens. Use the per-record citation when referencing this specific profile; use the dataset citation below when referencing the project as a whole.

In-text: (Gara, 2026)

Per-record citation

APA 7Reference list · academic default 
Gara, T. (2026). Shas [Party profile]. Tayyar: A MENA political-position dataset. Retrieved August 5, 2026, from https://tarekgara.com/tayyar/p/shas
Chicago author-dateCommon in political-science journals 
Gara, Tarek. 2026. "Shas." Party profile, Tayyar: A MENA political-position dataset. Accessed August 5, 2026. https://tarekgara.com/tayyar/p/shas.
BibTeXFor LaTeX / Zotero / reference managers 
@misc{tayyar-shas,
  title     = {{Shas}},
  author    = {Gara, Tarek},
  year      = {2026},
  publisher = {Tayyar: A MENA political-position dataset},
  type      = {Party profile},
  url       = {https://tarekgara.com/tayyar/p/shas},
  urldate   = {2026-08-05},
  note      = {First-pass entry; second-pass external review planned before publication.}
}

Dataset / working-paper citation

If you're citing Tayyar as a project rather than this individual record.

APA 7Preprint 
Gara, T. (2026). Tayyar: A MENA political-position dataset [Preprint]. Retrieved August 5, 2026, from https://tarekgara.com/tayyar/paper
BibTeXPreprint 
@unpublished{tayyar-preprint,
  title  = {{Tayyar: A MENA political-position dataset}},
  author = {Gara, Tarek},
  year   = {2026},
  type   = {Preprint},
  url    = {https://tarekgara.com/tayyar/paper},
  urldate = {2026-08-05},
  note   = {Living document, regenerated from the live dataset on page load.}
}

First-pass entry; second-pass external review planned before publication.