Shas election campaign is clearly based on its ability to safeguard the Torah community, promising to “fight poverty” and “prevent assimilation”. In the bus posters, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman is seen wearing a large black yarmulke under the banner “Only Shas can fight assimilation”. Another bus poster revealed in the campaign says “A Strong Shas can fight for the weak”, showing a photo of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.

Shas election officials explain to the media that the issue of defining the Jewish identity of the nation was addressed in the outgoing administration and Shas will combat any and all efforts to authorize mixed marriages between Jews and goyim, as was supported by Yisrael Beitenu which is now running with Likud. Hence the poster with Liberman and the yarmulke.

Shas explains that regarding the social-economic picture, while the middle class can’t “make the month”, the weaker class “can’t begin the month” and with over 1 million Israelis living under the poverty line, Shas will shout and be their voice. Shas officials add that the party has always been there for the poor and needy, and this has been proven by the party track record over the years.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)