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'''Shas''' (an acronym for Shomeri Torah Sefaradim, English "Torah-Observant Sephardim") is an ultra-Orthodox political party in [[Israel]].

'''Shas''' (an acronym for Shomeri Torah Sefaradim, English "Torah-Observant Sephardim") is an ultra-Orthodox political party in [[Israel]].

The party primarily represents the interests of Haredi Sephardic and Mizrahi Jews.  It usually gains around seven seats in the Knesset (though in recent elections, most recently in 2021, it has increased its membership to nine seats), and usually ends up part of the governing coalition regardless of which main party ([[Labour Party (Israel)|Labor]] or [[Likud]]) is leading it (though in the 2021 Knesset it is part of the official opposition).

The party primarily represents the interests of Haredi Sephardic and Mizrahi Jews.  It usually gains around seven seats in the Knesset (though in recent elections, most recently in the 25th Knesset, it has increased its membership to 11 seats) and usually ends up part of the governing coalition regardless of which main party ([[Labour Party (Israel)|Labor]] or [[Likud]]) is leading it.

Although disagreeing with the [[United Torah Judaism]] alliance on issues, Shas tends to vote with the alliance in most cases due to their common interests in representing the most observant in the Jewish community, and during the 2019 election the two groups formed an electoral alliance to maximize representation in the Knesset (the alliance did not continue in subsequent elections).

Although disagreeing with the [[United Torah Judaism]] alliance on issues, Shas tends to vote with the alliance in most cases due to their common interests in representing the most observant in the Jewish community, and during the 2019 election the two groups formed an electoral alliance to maximize representation in the Knesset (the alliance did not continue in subsequent elections).