United Torah Judaism Overtakes Shas in Israeli Election Results
United Torah Judaism has overtaken Shas in the popular vote during Israel's 2026 Knesset elections, though both parties remain tied for seven projected seats.
Initial results from the 2026 Knesset elections indicate a potential shift in power within the Haredi political sector. United Torah Judaism has overtaken Shas in the popular vote, ending a recent streak of Shas as the largest Haredi party.
As counting progressed, the lead for United Torah Judaism grew. Early reports with 60% of ballots counted showed the party leading by 18,255 votes. By the time over 70% of votes were processed, United Torah Judaism had secured 240,648 votes compared to 217,202 for Shas, widening the gap to 23,446 votes.
Despite the difference in popular support, both parties are currently projected to receive seven seats each in the Knesset. Analysts attribute the shift to higher voter turnout in Hasidic and Ashkenazi strongholds.
The final distribution of seats remains uncertain. Hundreds of thousands of double-envelope ballots from diplomats, soldiers, and hospitalized patients are still awaiting processing, which could alter the final results.
