Jerusalem, 11 October, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Shas and United Torah Judaism (UTJ) signed a surplus-vote agreement on Sunday ahead of Israel’s October 27 Knesset election, seeking to maximize their representation in the next parliament.
Shas leader Aryeh Deri and UTJ chairman Yaakov Asher signed the agreement, pledging continued cooperation in the next Knesset in accordance with the guidance of leading rabbinical authorities.
The two parties said they would present a united front on key issues, including preserving Torah study, protecting the status of yeshiva students and strengthening religious educational institutions. The agreement allows the parties to pool surplus votes during the allocation of Knesset seats, potentially helping one of them secure an additional mandate.
However, the arrangement takes effect only if both parties cross Israel’s 3.25% electoral threshold. The parties will continue running separate lists while coordinating their efforts to maximize their parliamentary representation.
