Full Breakdown
Shas and Likud Commit to Ongoing Coalition Ahead of Upcoming Elections
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Context: Upcoming Elections and Draft-Dodger Protests
As Israel prepares for national elections scheduled for the end of next month, Shas MK Uriel Busso told 103 FM that the ultra-Orthodox party will maintain its partnership with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud bloc in the next Knesset. Busso’s remarks came amid a protest in Bnei Brak on August 12, 2026, where demonstrators blocked Highway 4 to oppose the recent arrests of draft-dodgers traveling abroad. The march, which Busso characterized as not reflecting the broader Haredi public, highlighted tensions between the government’s conscription policies and segments of the ultra-Orthodox community.
Official Statements from Uriel Busso
He framed the alliance with Likud as rooted in “Zionist, values-based government” guidelines set by Prime Minister Netanyahu, indicating that this alignment “has been, and will continue” in the forthcoming parliament.
Regarding the Bnei Brak demonstration, Busso argued the turnout was inflated by the location rather than genuine support for the march’s message, noting that “thousands would come out” simply because the procession was held in the city. On the issue of military service exemptions, he stated that only those who “truly study” should have their status regulated, while those not engaged in yeshiva study need not be listed.
Verbatim Quotes
- “First of all, we haven't boycotted anyone. The people of Israel want to receive the service they deserve. The media is trying to generate a lot of sensationalism and controversy,” — Uriel Busso
- “This is not the true mainstream of the haredi public. It started with a few hundred people, but when you hold a procession in Bnei Brak, people come out into the streets,” — Uriel Busso
- “Those who study, who truly study, should have their status regulated. Those who don't study, I don't need to give you the list,” — Uriel Busso
Implications for the Haredi Community
Busso’s comments suggest that Shas intends to balance its religious exemption agenda with continued participation in a Likud-led government. By downplaying the protest’s representativeness, the party signals confidence that its policy positions on draft exemptions will remain influential in coalition negotiations. The stance also underscores an ongoing debate within the Haredi sector about the criteria for Torah-study exemptions and the broader societal expectation of military service.