This is an election poster for the Shas party from the 2009 Israeli general elections. The poster features a picture of the Shas leader, Eli Yishai, and includes a social message that every worker should have a pension. Eli Yishai is dressed in the typical clothing of Sephardi Ultra-Orthodox Jews: a black kippa, suit, tie and a short beard. Behind the picture of Yishai is a blue Star of David and to the right is a phone number, the Shas website address, and the logo of the Shas party.
Despite being a religious party, Shas appeals to working-class Sephardi voters, which explains the topic promoted on the poster. The inclusion of the Star of David can be viewed as a traditional Jewish symbol, although it might also be there to suggest that despite being an Ultra-Orthodox party, Shas has a Zionist ideology.
Eli Yishai took over the leadership of Shas in 2000, after his predecessor, Aryeh Deri, was convicted of bribery and fraud, served three years in prison, and was barred from political activity for 10 years. Under the stewardship of Yishai, the Shas party pushed further right in its attitude toward the Arab-Israeli conflict and also took steps to broaden its general appeal.
Would You Like to Know More?
Shas – Shas is a political party formed in the mid-1980s by its spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, the undisputed rabbinic leader of the Sephardi world until his death in October 2013. The party was established to provide a home for Sephardi and Mizrachi Israelis, generally left leaning on socioeconomic issues. At its peak, in 1999, Shas had 17 seats in the Knesset. The party went through a period turmoil after the conviction of its leader Aryeh Deri in 2000 and later with the death of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef in 2013. In recent years Deri has returned to the party, although its power has been declining, and in the 2015 elections it received only seven seats.
2009 Israeli General Elections – The elections for the 18th Knesset were held on February 10, 2009. The elections occurred after the resignation of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, head of the Kadima party, due to investigations into fraud allegations. The main issues that featured in the election campaign were the consequences of the 2006 Lebanon War and Operation Cast Lead in the Gaza Strip. Ultimately, despite the fact that Kadima won the most seats in the Knesset, only the Likud’s Benjamin Netanyahu was able to form a coalition parliament, and he became the next prime minister.
Elections in Israel – Israel is a democratic country, and general elections for the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, take place, according to the law, once every four years. The nationwide elections are based on a multi-party, proportional representation system. The legal voting age in Israel is 18, and all Israeli citizens from sectors may vote and be elected. Using voting slips with the initials of the parties, citizens vote for their preferred party and not for individual candidates. The 120 seats in the Knesset are then assigned proportionally to the parties according to the number of votes received. After the elections, the president of Israel chooses the leader of the largest party or of the party that is most likely to form a viable coalition government. This leader then forms a government, the Knesset gives it a vote of confidence, and the leader then becomes prime minister.
