A Megadim poll conducted by Dr. Mina Tzemach is cause for concern for the Shas party as close to 50% of chareidi Sephardim report they will not be voting Shas in the next Knesset elections. The poll was commissioned by Mishpacha Magazine.

According to the poll, 52.4% of chareidi Sephardim will be voting Shas in the next elections while 10% prefers to turn to the Ashkenazi Yahadut Hatorah chareidi party. In addition, 17% of the respondents remain undecided at this time. An addition 10% may vote for another [non-chareidi] party.

The contrast is evident when one looks at the numbers for Ashkenazi chareidi voters, with 82.9% of the litvish tzibur declaring it will vote for Yahadut Hatorah along with 74.6% of the chassidish voting tzibur.

Regarding the level of satisfaction from chareidi politicians among voters, Health Minister Yaakov Litzman remains in the lead with 28,2%, Moshe Gafne follows in second place with 20.8%, and Deputy Education Minister Meir Porush in third place with 7.1%. Fourth place goes to Shas leader Aryeh Deri with 6.9%.

The poll also reveals the split with the litvish Degel Hatorah and chassidish Agudas Yisrael factions which comprise Yahadut Hatorah, with Degel leading with a 60/40 margin.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)