Yashar party demands Shas party remove video; it says it improperly uses IDF soldiers

The Yashar party sent a warning letter to the Shas party demanding the removal of a propaganda video published on X titled "Father's Life." The letter claims the video violates Israel's Elections Law on propaganda methods, citing its use of IDF soldiers and the impression it creates that the military identifies with Shas. The video states that "over 30,000 soldiers and regular personnel voted for the Shas party in the last elections, according to official data."

A reader context note added to the video on X disputed that figure, stating it relies on counting double envelopes, which also include votes from prisoners, nursing home residents and hospital patients, not soldiers exclusively. The note added that if the methodology were applied consistently, it would suggest over 15,000 soldiers voted for Arab parties. "This is not true," the note said.

The letter argues that using IDF soldiers in campaign material is especially objectionable given Shas' record during the three-year war, stating the party worked to advance a draft evasion law and prioritized those who did not serve. "It is impossible to promote draft evasion at the expense of those serving, to be proud of those who are not serving, and then use IDF soldiers as a backdrop for election propaganda."

The letter also alleges the video includes a ballot displaying the party's letters, in violation of Section 7 of the Propaganda Law, which bars the use of party letters within 42 days of an election. The Yashar party demanded the video be removed by 11:00 a.m. on August 23, 2026, calling the letter an early appeal before further steps are taken.

The Shas party responded by defending the video and rejecting the accusations. "The Shas movement has been proud to represent tens of thousands of soldiers, reservists and regulars, alongside Torah scholars, for over 40 years," the party said. "We do not need a seal of approval from Eisenkot, who is currently busy qualifying Mansour Abbas and the Muslim Brotherhood as partners in his government, while denying the definition of the State of Israel as a Jewish state."

The Shas party said the video "does not use the IDF symbol at all" and instead shows a family member returning home from the base in civilian clothes, intended to refute what it called false propaganda, including from Eisenkot and his party, alleging Shas supports evasion.