Shas and United Torah Judaism Seal Surplus Vote-Sharing Deal Ahead of Oct. 27 Election

On Sunday, the two major ultra-Orthodox parties—Shas, led by MK Aryeh Deri, and United Torah Judaism (UTJ), chaired by MK Yaakov Asher—announced a signed surplus-vote-sharing agreement. The arrangement will take effect only if both parties clear the 3.25 percent electoral threshold.

Times of Israel

Under Israel’s proportional system, surplus-vote agreements allow parties to pool leftover votes after the initial seat allocation. If the combined surplus is sufficient for an extra mandate, one party can claim the seat, potentially bolstering the Haredi bloc’s influence. Both Shas and UTJ are currently projected to win roughly eight seats each, according to recent polling cited in coverage of the deal.

The Jerusalem Post

UTJ candidate Moshe Rosenthal, speaking to radio station Kol Barama, said the party will refuse to join any government that does not advance legislation preserving military-service exemptions for yeshiva students, underscoring the centrality of conscription policy to the bloc’s agenda.

Times of Israel

• “We will go with whoever commits to passing a conscription law that can withstand High Court scrutiny. After the elections, the leading rabbis will decide.” — Moshe Rosenthal, UTJ candidate

Times of Israel

The agreement arrives amid criticism of the Haredi parties for their anti-draft stance during the Israel Defense Forces’ manpower crisis. While the coalition’s other partners, such as Likud, have pursued legislation aimed at reducing draft exemptions, Shas and UTJ have signaled that any government participation will hinge on guarantees that protect yeshiva-student exemptions. The surplus-vote pact therefore not only seeks to secure additional parliamentary seats but also positions the parties to leverage their combined strength in negotiations over future conscription reforms.

The Jerusalem Post