The Council of Torah Sages directed Aryeh Deri to remain Shas chairman after the party's October 27, 2026 election setback reduced its Knesset representation from 11 to six seats. Deri had sought release from the role, but the rabbinic body overruled the request to ensure continuity on Haredi military exemption issues, and he publicly accepted the instruction. By early November, Deri withdrew from the incoming Knesset slate yet retained the party chairmanship to lead from outside parliament. With the spiritual leadership's binding decision in place and no subsequent challenges reported, trader consensus assigns high probability that Deri stays through year-end.